SMI Downs Rotary In Clarion Little League Baseball Action (05/05/14)

on 5 May, 2014 at 13:46

(By Eric Simko)

Skylar Rhoades took the mound for SMI, on Thursday, and with a little assistance from his first baseman and catcher threw all three Rotary batters out at first, home, and first. SMI’s Danny Ketner started things off in the bottom of the first with a single off Rotary pitcher Cal German, followed by Todd Brazier who reached on a fielding error. Kaden Park then reached first base on a fielding error, scoring Ketner and Brazier. After one it was 2-0 SMI.

In the top of the 2nd, Rhoades again was his own best friend, recording an unassisted out and striking out two. SMI’s Skyler Pastor provided the only run of the 2nd inning after he singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Skylar Rhoades then singled scoring Pastor. After 2 it was 3-0 SMI.

The top of the 3rd was more of the same. Rhoades induced a groundball out and two more strikeouts. German was tough in the bottom of the 3rd facing 4 batters and recording a groundball out, walk, and two strikeouts.

In the top of the 4th, German singled and Rotary sent a total of 6 batters to the plate. SMI escaped the inning with no damage done. In the bottom of the 4th after two strikeouts at the hands of German, SMI’s Jesse Lewis singled, Rhoades then belted a double, and Ketner singled again. After 4 it was 5-0 SMI.

Rotary threatened SMI in the 5th with a one out walk to Beau Verdill and Matt Terwilliger. German singled scoring Verdill.
Curvin Goheen then singled to have bases loaded. Terwilliger was then thrown out at home and Rhoades struck out his last batter of the day, running into his pitch restriction. SMI escaped the half inning only giving up one run. Christian Simko led off for SMI in the 5th and reached on a fielding error. Timmy Craig then earned his first LL hit of his career with a single moving Simko to 3rd. Simko then stole home on a passed ball. Craig moved to second base as Pastor drew a walk. Both then moved up on a passed ball. Owen Reinsel singled and scored Craig. The next batter, Lewis singled again scoring Pastor. Rhoades then singled and scored Reinsel. Now 9-1 SMI with two outs and two men on needed two runs to end the game (via the mercy rule).

SMI’s Todd Brazier then hit a walk off single that scored Lewis and Rhoades. SMI 11-1.

(Thanks to Coach Simko for this article.)