Pioneers Split with Raiders

Great High School Baseball!!

2007 Pioneer Classic Small School Bracket

2007 Pioneer Classic Large School Bracket

Carl's Scorecard - Nettleton Game #1

Carl's Scorecard - Nettleton game #2

published Friday, Mar. 30, 2007

The Pioneers met with our long time rivals the Nettleton Raiders Wednesday night after a brief but productive rain shower delayed the games originally scheduled for Tuesday. The tempo of the games was set quickly with both teams playing great defensive baseball and both pitchers working well from the mound. In the end the Pioneers would prevail in the opening game but fall in the nightcap. It was probably some of the best high school baseball I've seen in a while, with each team putting runners on base or in scoring position only to have the other make great defensive plays to deny them the opportunity to score. While I would have preferred a Pioneer sweep I will say both teams earned their victories and I believe both walked away with great respect for the other.

In the opener, Pioneer hurler Casey Aycock took the mound, a position he would maintain throughout the game. He picked up two strikeouts in the first inning, but the Pioneers suffered the same fate in the bottom half. In the top of the second a Raider runner reaches on an error but is denied second by a quick throw from the plate by catcher Kyle Kallsnick, the first of two in the opening game. While The Pioneers managed to get runners to first and second with no outs, the Raiders turn a quick double play to dash their hopes of scoring. In the third, Aycock gives up a hit and a sac and a passed ball puts the runner at third. It looks like the Raiders attempted a squeeze play at this point but the bunt was missed leaving the runner too far down the line to get back safely. He is caught in a rundown and tagged out. The Pioneers again suffer a double play in the bottom of the inning and are unable to score. In the fourth Aycock allows two consecutive hits with one out. But a pop up to Holmes at short and a relay to third gives the Pioneers their first double play of the night to end the threat. The bottom of the sixth is when the Pioneers manage to break the stalemate with a one out double by Steven Cesarski* and a two out long home run by Kallsnick to give the Pioneers two runs. In the bottom of the seventh, Aycock allowed his fourth and final hit of the game but Kallsnick and Simpson picked him attempting second. Aycock finishes the Raiders with two more strikeouts to end the game. Aycock gets the win allowing no runs on four hits, two walks with 8 strikeouts. Hitting for the Pioneers: Arnold - 1b; Cesarski* - 2b; Kallsnick - hr.

In the nightcap game the Pioneers send Cesarski* to the mound and he sets the Raiders down in order in the first. The Pioneers gain an early lead when lead off batter Aycock is hit by a pitch and eventually scored by Aaron Thornton with an rbi single. Thornton scores the second run of the game when the catcher throws down to attempt a pick on the runner on first but instead throws the ball away allowing a run. The pitching duel begun in the first game continues through the nightcap with neither side able to reach hit effectively or score until the sixth inning when Cesarski* hit the first batter and a bunt and sac put runners at second and third with one out. A Raider double evens the score. The Pioneers relieve in the seventh with Price Holmes who walks the lead off batter who reaches third on a sac bunt and a wild pitch. But a ground ball would foil the Raiders chances of scoring when the runner is tagged by Kallsnick attempting home. The Pioneers manage to get runners to scoring position in both the eighth and ninth inning but are unable to capitalize on the situation and leave them stranded both times. In the top of the tenth a lead off walk followed by a bunt and two stolen bases put Raiders at second and third with one out. Coach Rush walks the next Raider batter to put a force at every base and the Raiders take advantage by scoring two runs on a double. After another walk, Trent Weeks takes the mound to try and close the Raiders. A sac fly scores the third run of the inning and the Raiders fourth and final run crosses the plate on a wild pitch. Weeks strikes out the last batter to end the top of the inning. Down by four the Pioneers are unable to answer and go down in order to end the game.

* Cesarski has so many nicknames it is beyond belief. I've heard there are those attempting to compile an accurate list and it now stands at around 70. Hail Cesarski!

Hold the Rope! Carl.