Knights split with Red Riders, sweep twin bill from West M
By Kevin Lynch
April 15, 2010
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The Knights split a pair of games with Orrville, each team winning on its home field Tuesday and Wednesday, April 6 and 7.
On Wednesday at West Holmes, Orrville answered every score the Knights put on the board until West Holmes put up seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a 14-9 triumph.
Bryce Norman blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning, but the Red Riders answered with three in the top of the second.
West Holmes took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third on a two-out, RBI single by Mason James.
Orrville scored a single run in the top of the fourth to tie it at 4-4.
The Knights responded with two in the home half of the frame. Derek Reusser drove in a run with a fielders choice, and Norman scored on a wild pitch to take a 6-4 lead.
Orrville clean-up hitter Alex Brown blasted an RBI double, moved to third on an infield hit, and stole home on a double steal attempt to knot things up at 6-6 in the top of the fifth.
Steve Thomas pinch hit for Stewart Sabine and blasted a line drive homer to straight-away center field to put West Holmes back on top, but things couldve been much worse.
The Knights loaded the bases with one out, but Cory McVicker was nailed trying to score on a passed ball, and a ground out ended the threat.
Norman started the sixth on the hill for the Knights and promptly walked the bases loaded, striking out one. McVicker relieved and induced an infield pop out, but Brown socked a two-run single to put the Riders on top 8-7. An error led to another run for Orrville, and West Holmes trailed by two heading into the home half of the sixth inning.
Reusser began the inning with a double to left. Keaton Leppla laced a double to right center to score Reusser. Garrett Mackey got hit by a pitch and Thomas also got plunked to load the bases.
James grounded into a fielders choice to score a run, and, after Leppla scored on a wild pitch, McVicker. Travis Infield relieved Jordan Thomas on the hill for Orrville, and Joey Gonzalez greeted him with a run-scoring single, and after Norman walked, Kyle Hanna singled in a run. Leppla then capped off the rally with a two-run single. The Knights scored seven times on five hits, two walks and a pair of hit batsmen in the frame.
McVicker then shut down Orrville on one hit in the final frame to secure the victory. Gabe Snyder started and gave up three runs on four hits. Sabine relieved him and gave up three runs on five hits over two innings.
Everybody seemed to come through at the plate, West Holmes coach Kurt McDowell said. The last four games or so, hitting hasnt been the problem. Theyre swinging the bats well.
The coach is pleased with the way his seniors are integrating the younger players into the system.
The seniors are good leaders, McDowell said. The younger kids are stepping in, and theyre supporting them. They help pick them up and help teach them. The camaraderie is very good.
Freshman Keaton Leppla had three hits, driving in three for the winners, who improved to 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
On Tuesday, April 6, at Orrville, the Red Riders scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a 7-5 victory.
Aaron McKee suffered the loss in relief of Dustin Carder. Carder gave up four runs on only one hit. He walked four and the Knights defense imploded behind him, and then behind McKee. The Knights made six errors in the game.
Orrville scored three times early in the game on walks, errors and wild pitches.
Infield was the winning pitcher, giving up five runs on seven hits. He fanned seven and walked three.
West Holmes played long ball, bashing four home runs in the opener en route to a 16-11 win over West Muskingum.
The Knights then scored early and often to post a 12-5 triumph over the Tornadoes in the second game to sweep a Saturday, April 9, double dip in Zanesville.
Bryce Norman blasted a pair of home runs, and Joey Gonzalez and Brant Miller also went yard as the Knights banged out 15 hits in the opener.
Gonzalez added two singles and Mason James doubled and singled twice to lead the West Holmes offensive.
Cory McVicker singled and doubled as well as pitching four innings for the victory. McVicker gave up four runs on three hits and a pair of walks. He fanned two.
Senior southpaw Derek Reusser worked the first three innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits. He walked one and didnt strike out a batter.
In the nightcap, the Knights scored three runs in the first, three more in the second and four in the third on the way to the 12-5 victory.
James collected three more hits in the second game and Norman added two as West Holmes banged out 15 safeties.
Reusser doubled and Dustin Carder swatted two hits to help his own cause on the mound. Carder worked five innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked a pair. Stewart Sabine worked two innings of relief, giving up two runs on five hits.
The Knights improved to 5-4 with the wins.
