SMI Beats Rotary In Hard Fought Bout, 5-2 (5/19/14)

(By SMI Manager, Eric Simko)

Rotary big man Curvin Goheen took the mound for the boys in Maroon and White as they looked to even their record with SMI. SMI big man Skylar Rhoades singled off Goheen to start the game. The 3rd batter Todd Brazier was hit by a pitch moving Rhoades to 2nd. Rhoades and Brazier each moved up on a passed ball and Christian Simko grounded out to Rotary 2nd baseman Hayden Siegel, scoring Rhoades. Goheen struck out the next batter to get out of the half inning.

(Photo by Monica Goheen) SMI’s Skylar Rhoades
Facing Rotary’s Curvin Goheen. Behind the plate is Daniel Ketner

In the bottom of the first, Rhoades took the mound for SMI, with his boys in Blue cheering him on. Rhoades was fantastic striking out all 3 batters in short order. After 1; 1-0 SMI.

In the top of the 2nd, Goheen took a page right out of Rhoades playbook as he saw 3 batters and made quick work striking out all 3.

Rhoades remained tough in the bottom of the 2nd, he faced 5 batters walking two but again struck out three Rotary batters.
Goheen kept pace in the top of the 3rd, as he struck out two, and got another to fly out but not before Dan Ketner reached on a double. Ketner was left stranded keeping the score 1-0.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Rhoades took fire again, striking out the first two batters. Goheen then came to the plate and quickly found himself in a hole, with a 0-2 count. Goheen sat on a fast ball and hit a towering shot over the centerfield fence, knotting the game 1-1. Rhoades hung tight and provided the 3rd out via strikeout to get out of the inning. After 3; 1-1.

The 4th inning once again was all pitching, as Goheen and Rhoades saw 3 batters apiece and promptly sat down three batters apiece (all strikeouts).

In the top of the 5th, Skyler Pastor drew a walk for SMI but was thrown out at 2nd, after an Owen Reinsel ground ball fielder’s choice. Jesse Lewis and Rhoades each drew walks. The bases were loaded as Ketner came to the plate. Rotary called on Cal German to take the mound. Ketner singled and scored Reinsel. Brazier then reached on an outfield error, scoring Lewis. Simko then singled down the 3rd base line, scoring Rhoades and Ketner. Kaden Park reached on a fielder’s choice which saw Brazier put out at home. Simko and Park were left stranded, as German got his boys out of the inning with a groundball out.

(Photo by Monica Goheen) Rotary’s Curvin Giheen
pitching to SMI’s Christian Simko. Cam Lapinto is behind the plate.

In the bottom of the 5th, Braden Rankin drew a walk.The next batter struck out and Cameron Lapinto walked. Goheen stepped to the plate again. But was kept in check (and the ballpark) with a single, that scored Rankin. That was it for Rhoades, who performed terrifically, giving up just two hits, both to Goheen, and left due to pitch restrictions. SMI called on one of their lefties, Simko to get out of the inning. Simko got the next batter to fly out to the first baseman and struck out the next, to end the inning. After 5; 5-2 SMI.

German did his job in the top of the 6th, as he faced three batters, recording two strikeouts and a groundball out.
Simko returned to the mound for SMI, hoping to finish the game strong for the boys in Blue. He did not let down, as he faced three batters, striking out two and getting an unassisted out from first baseman Park. SMI 5-2.

Pitchers: Rotary – Goheen two hitter 9 strikeouts, and German two hitter 2 strikeouts.
SMI – Rhoades two hitter 12 strikeouts, and Simko no hitter 3 strikeouts.

Hits: Rotary – Goheen HR, 1b.
SMI – Ketner 2b, 1b. Rhoades 1b, and Simko 1b.

(Thanks to Coach Simko for this article and to Monica Goheen for the photos.)