SMI Charges Back To Defeat Pizza Pub. 12-7 (05/14/14)

(By SMI Manager, Eric Simko)

Pub started fast Monday night. SMI Pitcher Daniel Ketner took the mound. Conner Kromer reach on a fielding error, Josh Craig drew a walk and Ian Larson reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Kromer put out. With two outs in the inning, Ben Murtha doubled scoring Craig and Ian Larson. Mitch Knepp then tripled and scored Murtha. Michael Snyder singled scoring Knepp. Ketner struck out then next batter to end the half inning. 4-0 Pub.

Craig took the mound for Pub and Rhoades started things off for SMI. Not to be outdone, Skylar Rhoades promptly doubled, Ketner singled, and Todd Brazier reached on an outfield error that saw him take second base, scoring Rhoades and Ketner. Christian Simko singled and Kaden (KP) Park smashed a double, bringing in Brazier and Simko. Park, who had a career night, didn’t stop there and scored on passed balls. Jesse Lewis then singled but was left aboard as Craig recorded 3 strikeouts to end the inning. 5-4 SMI.

Ketner struck out the first batter to start the 2nd but things quickly turned, as Kromer would not be outdone and doubled for Pub. Craig then reached on an error and Datko singled scoring Kromer, Craig scored on throwing errors. Larson doubled but was hit by a bouncing ball that Murtha singled on. Ketner recorded a strikeout for the 3rd out. 7-5 Pub.

Things looked bleak for SMI as all they could manage in the bottom of the 2nd against Pubs new pitcher Datko was a single by Rhoades. Datko recorded two K’s and a ground ball out.

The top of the 3rd saw Simko take the mound for SMI. The leftie worked thru 5 batters, giving up one single to Kromer and getting a strikeout and two ground ball outs.

Datko was on his game, as the Pub hurler faced 3 and sat 3 down striking out SMI’s side.

In the 4th, SMI sent Rhoades to the mound and again not to be out done faced 3 striking out two and getting a centerfield flyout.

The bottom of the 4th was a different story for SMI, as their bats came alive. Rhoades drew a 4 pitch walk, Ketner walked, and Brazier blasted a double scoring Rhoades and Ketner. Simko singled and Park once again blasted a double to score Brazier and Simko. Skyler Pastor then walked but SMI stranded two. 9-7 SMI.

Rhoades continued to fire in the top of the 5th facing three and striking out three.

Rhoades then led off for SMI in the bottom of the 5th and blasted a HR over the left field fence. Ketner then singled and Simko tripled off a shot to the right centerfield fence scoring Ketner. Park then singled scoring Ketner. Park was left aboard. 12-7 SMI.

Rhoades faced two more batters in the top of the 6th, striking out both, but was removed per pitch count restrictions. Todd Brazier took the mound for SMI and faced two batters. Craig singled off Brazier but Brazier fought back and got the next batter to pop out in foul territory to SMI third baseman Jesse Lewis to end the game.

Pub pitchers were Craig, Datko, Larson, and Milt McElravy.

SMI pitchers were Ketner, Simko, Rhoades, and Brazier.

Pub Hits: Kromer 2b, 1b; Murtha 2b, 1b; Knepp 3b; Larson 2b; Datko, Craig, and Snyder singled.

SMI Hits: Rhoades HR, 2b, 1b; Simko 3b, 1b, 1b; Park 2b,1b,1b; Brazier 2b; Ketner 1b, 1b; Lewis 1b.