Seven home runs equal two region wins for MAC
By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer
Daily Journal Sports Writer
May 04, 2008 - 01:15:00 CDT
PARK HILLS - The Mineral Area College baseball team took full advantage of an inviting breeze that blew steadily to center field on Saturday, and likely improved its seed for the upcoming Region XVI Tournament.
MAC belted a total of seven home runs, getting two each from freshman Jimmy Thompson and sophomore Shane Graue, and opened a four-game weekend series against North Central with a double-header sweep at Hal Loughary Field.
Strong pitching by Josh Boyer in the opening contest sparked the Cardinals to a 12-1 triumph in five innings. Boyer struck out seven batters and walked none while scattering four hits in cruising to the win.
Garrett Oliver crushed his team-leading ninth homer during the first inning, and enjoyed a 3-for-3 effort with three RBI at the plate. Shane Menz was also a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI before leaving the action in the fourth.
The Cardinals seized control by netting five clutch runs after North Central starter Joel Murphy retired the first two hitters of the second inning.
Singles by Blake Pinnon and Matt Thompson prolonged the rally, and Oliver delivered a timely two-run single to right. Menz followed with a three-run shot over the right-center wall for 6-1 lead.
Mineral Area batted around the order again during the fourth, erupting for six runs against reliever Keegan Graves. Menz drilled a two-run double off the center-field wall, then scored when Jimmy Thompson launched his eighth homer of the year to left.
Graue capped the scoring with a two-run blast after Jason Meystedt singled. Graue finished 2-for-3 with a single in the third, while Jimmy Thompson went 1-for-1 plus two walks.
Kyle Wampler went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, and Adam DunBuque added a triple for North Central.
MAC would squander a four-run cushion in the fifth inning of game two, but answered with two late tallies for an 8-6 victory to level its overall region record at 13-13.
North Central began its comeback when Gus Durst crushed a two-run homer off MAC hurler Garrett Wiggans. Wampler and Zane Walker then scored on a throwing error with two outs, tying the score at 6-6.
The Cardinals made a lead-off walk and a key throwing error prove costly for pitcher Zach Sturdefant in the home half of the fifth, as Blackwell scored the decisive run on a Mike Hammonds sacrifice fly. Matt Thompson continued the longball parade with an insurance home run in the sixth.
MAC reliever Justin Forsythe induced the final out of the fifth, and recorded the last six outs on strikes to notch the save. Forsythe fanned consecutive batters after the Pirates acquired two base runners in the seventh.
North Central grabbed a 1-0 lead when DunBuque opened the game with a single and scored on a double play. James Johndrow sprinted home on a wild pitch after stroking a one-out double for the Pirates in the second frame.
The Cardinals plated three runs in the bottom of the first after lead-off man Ty Craft was plunked by a pitch. Matt Thompson smashed a RBI double to right-center, and Jimmy Thompson put MAC ahead with a RBI single. A bloop hit behind second base from Hammonds made it 3-1.
Jimmy Thompson did not record an out in six plate appearances on the afternoon, and added to the Mineral Area lead with his ninth home run in the third. Seth Blackwell ripped a double down the left-field line moments later, and Graue made it 6-2 with a two-run blast to center.
Wiggans sustained a no-decision after striking out five over 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits. Hammonds finished with two RBI, and Chad Moss chipped in a single for the Cardinals.
Both teams will play another twinbill today at noon to close out the regular season.
Game One:
North Central 010 00 - 1 4 1
Mineral Area 150 6x - 12 12 1
WP - Boyer 5i 1r 4h 7k 0bb 1hb.
LP - Murphy 2 2/3i 6r 7h 2k 3bb.
Hitting:
North Central - Wampler 2-2, Edmonds 1-2, DuBuque 1-2. 3b - DunBuque. HR - Wampler.
Mineral Area - Oliver 3-3, Menz 3-3, Graue 2-3, J Thompson 1-1, M Thompson 1-2, Meystedt 1-3, Pinnon 1-4. 2b - Menz. HR - Oliver (9), J Thompson (8), Graue (3), Menz (2).
Game Two:
North Central 110 040 0 - 6 8 1
Mineral Area 303 011 - 8 8 2
WP - Forsythe 2 1/3i 0r 1h 6k 1bb.
LP - Sturdefant 4i 7r 6er 7h 0k 3bb.
Hitting:
North Central — DunBuque 2-4, Durst 2-4, Estill 1-3, Wampler 1-4, Walker 1-4, Johndrow 1-4. 2b - Johndrow. HR - Durst.
Mineral Area - J Thompson 2-2, M Thompson 2-4, Hammonds 1-1, Blackwell 1-2, Graue 1-2, Moss 1-3. 2b - M Thompson, Blackwell. HR - J Thompson (9), Graue (4), M Thompson (4).
MAC belted a total of seven home runs, getting two each from freshman Jimmy Thompson and sophomore Shane Graue, and opened a four-game weekend series against North Central with a double-header sweep at Hal Loughary Field.
Strong pitching by Josh Boyer in the opening contest sparked the Cardinals to a 12-1 triumph in five innings. Boyer struck out seven batters and walked none while scattering four hits in cruising to the win.
Garrett Oliver crushed his team-leading ninth homer during the first inning, and enjoyed a 3-for-3 effort with three RBI at the plate. Shane Menz was also a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI before leaving the action in the fourth.
The Cardinals seized control by netting five clutch runs after North Central starter Joel Murphy retired the first two hitters of the second inning.
Singles by Blake Pinnon and Matt Thompson prolonged the rally, and Oliver delivered a timely two-run single to right. Menz followed with a three-run shot over the right-center wall for 6-1 lead.
Mineral Area batted around the order again during the fourth, erupting for six runs against reliever Keegan Graves. Menz drilled a two-run double off the center-field wall, then scored when Jimmy Thompson launched his eighth homer of the year to left.
Graue capped the scoring with a two-run blast after Jason Meystedt singled. Graue finished 2-for-3 with a single in the third, while Jimmy Thompson went 1-for-1 plus two walks.
Kyle Wampler went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, and Adam DunBuque added a triple for North Central.
MAC would squander a four-run cushion in the fifth inning of game two, but answered with two late tallies for an 8-6 victory to level its overall region record at 13-13.
North Central began its comeback when Gus Durst crushed a two-run homer off MAC hurler Garrett Wiggans. Wampler and Zane Walker then scored on a throwing error with two outs, tying the score at 6-6.
The Cardinals made a lead-off walk and a key throwing error prove costly for pitcher Zach Sturdefant in the home half of the fifth, as Blackwell scored the decisive run on a Mike Hammonds sacrifice fly. Matt Thompson continued the longball parade with an insurance home run in the sixth.
MAC reliever Justin Forsythe induced the final out of the fifth, and recorded the last six outs on strikes to notch the save. Forsythe fanned consecutive batters after the Pirates acquired two base runners in the seventh.
North Central grabbed a 1-0 lead when DunBuque opened the game with a single and scored on a double play. James Johndrow sprinted home on a wild pitch after stroking a one-out double for the Pirates in the second frame.
The Cardinals plated three runs in the bottom of the first after lead-off man Ty Craft was plunked by a pitch. Matt Thompson smashed a RBI double to right-center, and Jimmy Thompson put MAC ahead with a RBI single. A bloop hit behind second base from Hammonds made it 3-1.
Jimmy Thompson did not record an out in six plate appearances on the afternoon, and added to the Mineral Area lead with his ninth home run in the third. Seth Blackwell ripped a double down the left-field line moments later, and Graue made it 6-2 with a two-run blast to center.
Wiggans sustained a no-decision after striking out five over 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits. Hammonds finished with two RBI, and Chad Moss chipped in a single for the Cardinals.
Both teams will play another twinbill today at noon to close out the regular season.
Game One:
North Central 010 00 - 1 4 1
Mineral Area 150 6x - 12 12 1
WP - Boyer 5i 1r 4h 7k 0bb 1hb.
LP - Murphy 2 2/3i 6r 7h 2k 3bb.
Hitting:
North Central - Wampler 2-2, Edmonds 1-2, DuBuque 1-2. 3b - DunBuque. HR - Wampler.
Mineral Area - Oliver 3-3, Menz 3-3, Graue 2-3, J Thompson 1-1, M Thompson 1-2, Meystedt 1-3, Pinnon 1-4. 2b - Menz. HR - Oliver (9), J Thompson (8), Graue (3), Menz (2).
Game Two:
North Central 110 040 0 - 6 8 1
Mineral Area 303 011 - 8 8 2
WP - Forsythe 2 1/3i 0r 1h 6k 1bb.
LP - Sturdefant 4i 7r 6er 7h 0k 3bb.
Hitting:
North Central — DunBuque 2-4, Durst 2-4, Estill 1-3, Wampler 1-4, Walker 1-4, Johndrow 1-4. 2b - Johndrow. HR - Durst.
Mineral Area - J Thompson 2-2, M Thompson 2-4, Hammonds 1-1, Blackwell 1-2, Graue 1-2, Moss 1-3. 2b - M Thompson, Blackwell. HR - J Thompson (9), Graue (4), M Thompson (4).
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