claymore
04-03-2008, 09:36 AM
Dragon drop home opener, 4-3
Alex Burnett was masterful through the first five innings of Cameron's baseball home opener. Before a large crowd of the hometown faithful, he struck out eight, gave up one hit and walked one. He had however, hit three batters indicating a lack of control, which would undo him in the sixth.
Meanwhile Andrew Nellenstein of LeBlond was turning in almost identical numbers on the mound, but found himself on the short end of a 1-0 game.
The Dragons jumped out to their lead when a throwing error by shortstop Phillip Kafka, that was sandwiched between two strikeouts, gave Dakota Fletcher an opportunity to run the bases. He stole second and then aggressively scored on Dakoda Phillips RBI single.
There would be no more fireworks in this game until LeBlond's half of the sixth. It started with a walk to the Eagles third baseman Lueckenhoff, who moved to second when Burnett hit his fourth batter on a 0-2 count. In an effort to sacrifice the runners to second and third, Chris Schultz laid down a perfect bunt and loaded the bases with a single. The center fielder Merrick then golfed a single off his shoe tops that drove in the tying run.
At that point, Cameron Coach Randy Anderson, brought in Sean Skilling to replace Burnett. Skilling was able to get Schott to ground back to him and he promptly forced the runner at home, whereupon Cameron catcher Greene threw to first to double off the hitter. The return throw from first baseman Summers was late and LeBlond took a 2-1 lead.
Skilling then gave up a full count RBI single to Banks to make the score three to one. He walked Montag, and then Kafka drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single to left center, and those were all the runs the Eagles would need.
Cameron demonstrated strong offense in their half of the seventh. After a leadoff strikeout to Wilburn, Phillips walked, followed by what could have been an inning ending double play grounder by Grassley. The second baseman dropped the throw from the shortstop and the runners were safe. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third and then Blake Levins delivered a single that scored both runners.
LeBlond brought in Lueckenhoff to relieve and he struck out Greene, followed by a game ending ground ball, to third, by Summers.
"We did some good stuff on the field," said Anderson. "Alex had really good stuff, with a lot of pop on the ball, but in high school baseball one bad inning can beat you, and we had ours. We had a lot of new guys on the field and it is going to take some time to get to know how we will best fit together. Sean will need more innings before he will throw with confidence, but then again we almost came back to win."
Not a bad performance considering this was only the second time this season for the Dragons to be on their own field.
Alex Burnett was masterful through the first five innings of Cameron's baseball home opener. Before a large crowd of the hometown faithful, he struck out eight, gave up one hit and walked one. He had however, hit three batters indicating a lack of control, which would undo him in the sixth.
Meanwhile Andrew Nellenstein of LeBlond was turning in almost identical numbers on the mound, but found himself on the short end of a 1-0 game.
The Dragons jumped out to their lead when a throwing error by shortstop Phillip Kafka, that was sandwiched between two strikeouts, gave Dakota Fletcher an opportunity to run the bases. He stole second and then aggressively scored on Dakoda Phillips RBI single.
There would be no more fireworks in this game until LeBlond's half of the sixth. It started with a walk to the Eagles third baseman Lueckenhoff, who moved to second when Burnett hit his fourth batter on a 0-2 count. In an effort to sacrifice the runners to second and third, Chris Schultz laid down a perfect bunt and loaded the bases with a single. The center fielder Merrick then golfed a single off his shoe tops that drove in the tying run.
At that point, Cameron Coach Randy Anderson, brought in Sean Skilling to replace Burnett. Skilling was able to get Schott to ground back to him and he promptly forced the runner at home, whereupon Cameron catcher Greene threw to first to double off the hitter. The return throw from first baseman Summers was late and LeBlond took a 2-1 lead.
Skilling then gave up a full count RBI single to Banks to make the score three to one. He walked Montag, and then Kafka drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single to left center, and those were all the runs the Eagles would need.
Cameron demonstrated strong offense in their half of the seventh. After a leadoff strikeout to Wilburn, Phillips walked, followed by what could have been an inning ending double play grounder by Grassley. The second baseman dropped the throw from the shortstop and the runners were safe. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third and then Blake Levins delivered a single that scored both runners.
LeBlond brought in Lueckenhoff to relieve and he struck out Greene, followed by a game ending ground ball, to third, by Summers.
"We did some good stuff on the field," said Anderson. "Alex had really good stuff, with a lot of pop on the ball, but in high school baseball one bad inning can beat you, and we had ours. We had a lot of new guys on the field and it is going to take some time to get to know how we will best fit together. Sean will need more innings before he will throw with confidence, but then again we almost came back to win."
Not a bad performance considering this was only the second time this season for the Dragons to be on their own field.