MAC's Saturday game is deja vu of opener
By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor
Daily Journal Sports Editor
May 11, 2008 - 01:14:31 CDT
PARK HILLS — The Mineral Area Cardinals were able to reach the fifth inning on Saturday against the Maple Woods Monarchs when for the second time in four days their game was again suspended because of rain.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals had their opening game of the Region 16 Junior College Tournament with St. Charles halted in the fifth inning and it wasn’t until two days later they were able to finish the contest. This time they should be back in action today at 9 a.m. to finish the game with the winner advancing in the tournament and the loser ending their season.
Unlike their opening game, this time the Cardinals were not tied at the break in action. The Monarchs had a 7-4 advantage with two men on and no outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Mineral Area fell behind early as Maple Woods hit three straight singles to start their offensive attack in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Hook hit the third single to drive in the game’s first run, but on trying to advance to second on the throw, Hook was thrown out at second by MAC shortstop Blake Pinnon on the relay from Garrett Oliver in left.
The Monarchs second run scored via a MAC throwing error.
Mineral Area claimed the lead immediately following. The first two batters received free passes with Shane Menz being plunked by a pitch and Ty Craft reaching on a ball mishandled by the shortstop.
A sac fly by Seth Blackwell to centerfield scored Menz, and a two-out single by Chad Moss drove in Craft. Craft went to second on a passed ball and a single by Pinnon drove him in for the 3-2 lead.
Wiggans rewarded his teammates offensive efforts by striking out two of three batters he faced in the bottom of the inning.
A pair of doubles extended MAC’s lead. Matt Thompson led the third inning off with one over the right fielder’s head, and Menz drove in Thompson with a double over the head of a diving Brandon Wayne in leftfield to score Thompson.
Maple Woods second time around in the line-up propelled them into the lead again. A lead-off walk looked to possibly lead to a double play when Wiggans got T.J. Brewer to hit a sharp grounder to first. The throw to second to get Wayne, who was stealing on the pitch, was in the dirt and both runners were safe instead with Wayne taking third on the error.
Wayne scored on a single by Hook, and when Brewer tried to follow him in, he was gunned down by Pinnon on a relay from Oliver. Travis Garcia hit a single, but was forced at second on a double play attempt by MAC. Hook scored on the play. The inning continued with Matt Saragusa hitting a double and Cory Steuffer driving him in with a single.
Joe Cole took over duties on the mound for Mineral Area as the rain began to fall, and Cole proceeded to strike out the next batter on three straight pitches to end the inning.
Singles by Shane Graue and Pinnon in the top of the fifth left them stranded on the bases as the third out was made. Hook, with his third hit for the Monarchs in as many at-bats, hit a 2-0 fast-ball into the gap in right-center for a lead-off triple in the bottom of the inning, and he scored on a passed ball.
The winner of the game will play Three Rivers today at a time yet to be disclosed.
Copyright ©
Daily Journal Online. All rights reserved.
http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2008/05/11/sports/doc48267d05ae953604168566.txt
On Wednesday, the Cardinals had their opening game of the Region 16 Junior College Tournament with St. Charles halted in the fifth inning and it wasn’t until two days later they were able to finish the contest. This time they should be back in action today at 9 a.m. to finish the game with the winner advancing in the tournament and the loser ending their season.
Unlike their opening game, this time the Cardinals were not tied at the break in action. The Monarchs had a 7-4 advantage with two men on and no outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Mineral Area fell behind early as Maple Woods hit three straight singles to start their offensive attack in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Hook hit the third single to drive in the game’s first run, but on trying to advance to second on the throw, Hook was thrown out at second by MAC shortstop Blake Pinnon on the relay from Garrett Oliver in left.
The Monarchs second run scored via a MAC throwing error.
Mineral Area claimed the lead immediately following. The first two batters received free passes with Shane Menz being plunked by a pitch and Ty Craft reaching on a ball mishandled by the shortstop.
A sac fly by Seth Blackwell to centerfield scored Menz, and a two-out single by Chad Moss drove in Craft. Craft went to second on a passed ball and a single by Pinnon drove him in for the 3-2 lead.
Wiggans rewarded his teammates offensive efforts by striking out two of three batters he faced in the bottom of the inning.
A pair of doubles extended MAC’s lead. Matt Thompson led the third inning off with one over the right fielder’s head, and Menz drove in Thompson with a double over the head of a diving Brandon Wayne in leftfield to score Thompson.
Maple Woods second time around in the line-up propelled them into the lead again. A lead-off walk looked to possibly lead to a double play when Wiggans got T.J. Brewer to hit a sharp grounder to first. The throw to second to get Wayne, who was stealing on the pitch, was in the dirt and both runners were safe instead with Wayne taking third on the error.
Wayne scored on a single by Hook, and when Brewer tried to follow him in, he was gunned down by Pinnon on a relay from Oliver. Travis Garcia hit a single, but was forced at second on a double play attempt by MAC. Hook scored on the play. The inning continued with Matt Saragusa hitting a double and Cory Steuffer driving him in with a single.
Joe Cole took over duties on the mound for Mineral Area as the rain began to fall, and Cole proceeded to strike out the next batter on three straight pitches to end the inning.
Singles by Shane Graue and Pinnon in the top of the fifth left them stranded on the bases as the third out was made. Hook, with his third hit for the Monarchs in as many at-bats, hit a 2-0 fast-ball into the gap in right-center for a lead-off triple in the bottom of the inning, and he scored on a passed ball.
The winner of the game will play Three Rivers today at a time yet to be disclosed.