Pizza Pub Wins Third Straight (06/03/14)
(By Pizza Pub Manager, Jason Craig)
On Thursday, May 29th, the Pizza Pub improved their record to 8–5 and extended their winning streak to three games with a very exciting 4-3 win over SMI.
Pitching was the key tonight, and both teams got great performances on the mound. Josh Craig started for the Pub and gave up one hit in the first 2 innings, a double by Daniel Ketner while striking out 3 SMI batters. Skylar Rhoades was equal to the task, giving up a single to Nate Datko while striking out 4 Pub batters.
SMI got on the board first in the third inning. Jesse Lewis singled to start the inning and eventually scored on a ground out to second base by Christian Simko. Craig struck out the next 2 batters to end the half inning. In the home half of the inning, Luca Cherico reached first via catcher’s interference. Craig would move him to second with an infield single. Datko reached first by way of a dropped third strike. However, the throw from the catcher got by the first basemen and Datko made it all the way to third base. Cherico and Craig would score on the play. Datko would then score on a passed ball. After 3 innings, the Pub led 3–1.
In the fourth inning, SMI would plate another run as they took advantage of two Pub errors. The Pizza Pub was unable to do anything in the bottom of the fourth and the score was now 3-2.
SMI tied the score in the top of the fifth with a triple by Rhoades who later scored on a ground ball by Ketner. In the Pub half of the fifth, Connor Kromer got on base with a bunt single and scored the final run of the game on a passed ball. With no runs in the 6th inning, the score was set at 4–3 in favor of the Pizza Pub.
Skylar Rhoades pitched an outstanding game for SMI. He gave up 4 hits, walked a batter and struck out 13. Rhoades (triple), Ketner (double) and Lewis (single) had hits for SMI.
Josh Craig and Nate Datko teamed up to match the Rhoades’ pitching perfomance. Together, they gave up 3 hits while walking 2 batters and striking out 13. Kromer, Craig, Datko and Benny Murtha all singled for the Pub.
(Thanks to Coach Craig for this article.)