SMI Downs Delta As The Rain Came Down, Monday Night (04/30/14)

(By Coach Eric Simko)

Daniel Ketner took the mound for SMI. SMI struggled early on with fielding errors and passed balls. Delta was quick to take advantage, getting runners on base and moving them up 60 feet. The 4, 5, and 6 batters Cole Slaugenhoup, Brady Fowkes, and Corbin Coulson all came thru with singles. Delta batted 10 players in the top of the 1st scoring 4 and stranding 3.

SMI had no rebuttal and their big bats went down quietly at the hands of Noah Ditullio in the bottom of one.

In the 2nd, SMI dug in defensively holding Delta to just one run. Cole Slaugenhoup hit a towering shot to center, SMI centerfielder Todd Brazier was there for the out. Ditullio scored on the tag and it was 5-0 Delta. Ketner kept his focus and pitched SMI out of the inning, inducing two ground ball outs following the sac fly.

The bottom of two was much the same for SMI as Deltas Ditullio faced four SMI batters, striking out two and getting a ground ball out to the first baseman.

Ketner and SMI got stronger in the 3rd. Coulson lead off for Delta and singled again. Ketner retired the next 3 batters on strikeouts, stranding Coulson. SMI’s Skylar Rhoades led off with a triple, followed by a Ketner single scoring Rhoades. Christian Simko singled scoring Ketner. Simko scored on a passed ball, stealing home as Owen Reinsel drew a walk. Reinsel was retired at second on a fielder’s choice that saw Kaden Park take first. Gary Matus then drew a walk. With two outs and down 5-3, with two runners aboard, Skyler Pastor hit a double to score Park. At the end of three it was 5-4 Delta.

After a quiet top of the 4th for Delta, SMI continued to battle in the bottom of the inning. Rhoades and Ketner singled. Todd Brazier reached on a fielding error that scored Rhoades and Ketner. After 2 recorded strikeouts by Delta pitcher Bryson Huwar, SMI runner Brazier was thrown out at home on a passed ball steal attempt on a strong play by Delta catcher Slaugenhoup. After 4 it was 6-5 SMI.

Ketner remained tough in the 5th, recording a groundball out and strikeout of the first two batters, but on the long rain delayed cool night Ketner put the next two on base with a passed ball and walk. Simko was brought in, in relief of Ketner. Simko induced a ground ball out unassisted to the first baseman -Ketner. In the bottom of the 5th, Timmy Craig drew a walk and Rhoades singled. Brazier reached first on a fielding error scoring Craig. Rhoades stole home on a passed ball to add two more runs to SMI’s lead, 8-5.

With one out in the top of the 6th Simko walked Huwar; Slaugenhoup once again came thru belting a double to the outfield fence scoring Huwar. Fowkes then singled scoring Slaugenhoup. Simko struck out the next two batters to end the game 8-7 SMI after 5 ½ innings.

(Thanks to Coach Simko for this article.)