Large-School co-champs to meet in tourney finals

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

May 01, 2008 - 11:17:54 CDT

FARMINGTON — The regular season co-champions of the MAAA Large-School baseball division each advanced to the conference tournament title game with narrow semifinal victories on Wednesday night.

The top-seeded Ste. Genevieve Dragons picked up an equalizing run to force extra innings against upset-minded Potosi, then surged to a 3-2 triumph on a RBI walk-off single in the eighth by senior catcher Tyler Thomure.

Caleb Whitworth struck out six batters and walked none while scattering six hits for an impressive, complete-game win. Whitworth not only retired 15 of his final 17 batters faced, but also extended the contest with a key hit.

Potosi sent freshman Devin Hampton to the mound, and he produced six brilliant innings, allowing only one hit and one walk with two strikeouts before settling for a no-decision. The Trojans committed five defensive errors.

Ste. Genevieve capitalized on a dropped fly ball for an unearned run in the third, as Chad Greminger trimmed the Potosi lead to 2-1 with a two-out, RBI single. Cody Schmelzle sparked the pivotal seventh-inning rally with a lead-off single for the Dragons’ second hit of the afternoon.

Greminger nearly tied the game with a double to right-center, but a strong recovery in the Potosi outfield caused Schmelzle to be tagged out at the plate. Whitworth finally evened things with a RBI single up the middle.

Making his third appearance in as many days, Potosi reliever Chad Smith earned an 11-pitch strikeout to escape the seventh, but was greeted by a lead-off hit from Aaron Wehner in the eighth.

Jeremy Vaeth reached safely when his sacrifice bunt was bobbled, and Thomure smashed a line drive past the left fielder, giving the Dragons their seventh consecutive win.

Potosi (10-9) loaded the bases on singles by Matt Marler and Andy Reed after Brad Wright was plunked by a pitch to begin the second inning. Collin Juliette put the Trojans ahead with a RBI ground out, and Brad Coleman made it 2-0 with an infield hit.

Landon Young finished 2-for-4 and Wright added a single to lead the Trojans, who played their second straight extra-inning game. Both teams turned one double play.

Ste. Genevieve (13-3) will meet Farmington in the tournament final at Wilson-Rozier Park on Friday night. The Knights defeated the Dragons, 7-1 in the regular-season meeting on April 1.

Potosi  020 000 00 - 2  6  5

Ste. Genevieve  000 100 11 - 3  6  0

WP - Whitworth 8i 2r 6h 6k 0bb.

LP - Smith 2/3i 1r 2h 2k 1bb.

Hitting:

Potosi - Young 2-4, Wright 1-2, M Marler 1-3, Reed 1-3, Coleman 1-3.

Ste. Genevieve - Greminger 2-3, Schmelzle 1-3, Whitworth 1-3, Wehner 1-4, Thomure 1-4. 2b - Greminger.

Farmington 4, Valle 1

FARMINGTON — The Farmington baseball team received another effective start from senior hurler Isaac Armstrong, and earned its ninth consecutive finals appearance with a 4-1 win over Small-School champion Valle.

Farmington (10-8) stranded 11 base runners overall, but secured three big insurance runs in the sixth inning before turning aside a late comeback threat from the Warriors. Senior Adam Blum went 2-for-3 with one run scored to pace the Knights’ offense.

Armstrong averted potential trouble throughout his 6 2/3 innings, as Valle (15-5) managed at least one base-runner in each frame. Armstrong walked five batters in all, but allowed just three hits while striking out four.

Valle starter Nathan Geile notched pivotal strikeouts to leave multiple runners on base during the first and third innings, but Farmington broke through with a run in the fourth.

Bryan Krause singled with one out and advanced to third base when Blum slapped a single into right field. Jordan Kimrey followed with a chopper to the right side, and Krause beat a late throw to the plate.

The Warriors could not maximize a pair of walks in the third, and saw another quality scoring threat evaporate in the sixth. After Casey Koller lashed a lead-off single to left, Armstrong snared a line drive off the wooden bat of Geile, and doubled off Koller at first base.

Singles by Blum and pinch-hitter Colten Pigg helped Farmington load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. A wild pitch allowed Blum to race home, and Ethan Bullard highlighted the inning with a two-run single that increased the lead to 4-0.

Geile fanned eight batters and walked five over five-plus innings, and picked up his initial loss of the season after winning seven straight decisions. Jason Blum induced a double play in relief to prevent further damage.

Armstrong nearly completed a shutout with a perfect seventh inning, but a fielding error enabled Christian Moulton to reach base safely with two outs. Armstrong walked the next two batters, and was pulled after missing the zone with his first offering to Michael Greminger.

Greminger eventually walked on four pitches to force home a run, but reliever Nick Baker retired Koller on a slow ground ball to claim the save.

Jason Blum and Aaron Basler each singled in defeat for the Warriors, who will face Potosi on Friday for third place.

Valle  000 000 1 - 1  3  2

Farmington  000 103 x - 4  6  1

WP - Armstrong 6 2/3i 1r 0er 3h 4k 5bb.

LP - Geile 5i 4r 3er 5h 8k 5bb.

SV - Baker 1/3i 0r 0h 0k 1bb.

Hitting:

Valle - Koller 1-2, Basler 1-3, Blum 1-3.

Farmington - Blum 2-3, Pigg 1-1, Bullard 1-3, Baker 1-4, Krause 1-4.