Pioneers Sweep Tech; Move to 10 - 0 in Conference Play

published Wednesday, April 14, 2004

The Pioneers have added 2 conference wins and strengthened their grasp on their first Conference Championship since 2000 with a sweep of the Greene Count Tech Eagles. The Pioneers played strongly with the typically strong pitching and fielding we have come to expect of them. Batting was strong in the first game but the Pioneers struggled at the plate somewhat in the second game. However, they prevailed again and are 2 games closer to their goal of conference champs and the #1 seed from the 4A east in the completely unfair bracketing at the State Tournament. With the #1 or #4 seeds getting 2 days off between the 1st and 2nd round of play and the #2 and #3 seeds having to play 3 days in a row I don't see how anyone can think that all teams are being treated equitably. Their are plenty of places that have 2 fields available for play that could avoid this situation, just as Nettleton did last year. What kind of pull does Mills have with the AAA to get this tournament year after year? It is definitely not their field.

In the opening game Pioneer pitcher Jeremy Burba opened up with almost a mirror image of his performance at Wynne the week before. Allowing only 2 hits and 2 walks with no runs Jeremy completely shut down the Eagles batters. The 8 strikeouts didn't help either. The Pioneer batters score quickly with shortstop Kyle Francis singling, advancing to second when DH Brad Fletcher singles and both scoring when 1st baseman Grant Gatlin doubles. In the second inning, right fielder Weldon Davis singles, is joined by left fielder Hunter Platt on a base hit and both are scored by a Francis double. Francis eventually scores on a Tech error. The third inning adds 2 more runs with a lead off hit by Gatlin, advanced by center fielder Patrick Smith on a Sac Bunt and 2nd baseman Anthony Rhodes who reaches on an error. Gatlin steals home and Rhodes and Davis execute a squeeze play for the second run. Lead off batters Gatlin and Smith hit back to back home runs in the fifth for 2 more runs and the last scores of the game come in the 6th when Francis and Skinner take successive HP's. Skinner is relieved by CR Brady Yeager and scored by Gatlin with the last hit of the game, bringing the final score to Pioneers 10, GCT 0. Batting for the Pioneers: Francis - Double, single; Fletcher - single; Gatlin - home run, double, 2 singles and 4 rbi's; A great night for Grantosaurus Rex! Smith - home run; Davis - single.

The closing game adds some tension to the night with Tech taking an early lead. Pitcher Grant Gatlin struggles at first keeping the ball down in the zone and walks the lead batter. A ground out and a single bring him to 3rd and a Sac fly puts Tech on the board for the first time of the night. The Pioneer hitters struggle at the plate and while they put the ball in play aren't able to deliver hits. In the second Gatlin finds the zone and sets them down in order with 2 "K's". The third inning starts out like the second ended with 2 quick strikeouts. However, back to back singles and a Pioneer error add another score to the Eagles tally. In the bottom of the 3rd the Pioneers stage a 2 out rally that finds the bases loaded after DH Andy Roger singles and Francis is hit by a pitch. The ball deflects off of Kyle's shoulder and strikes him in the face. He retires from the game and heads to the hospital for a few quick stitches to the inside of his lip. He is relieved by Evan Eary and Rogers is relieved by Kyle McMullin. Skinner singles to load the bases. Fletcher steps in the box and after 8 pitches hits to the left side of the infield. The 3rd baseman fields the ball but rushes the throw to second and throws the ball into center field allowing Eary and McMullin to score. In the fifth Rogers takes an HP and shortstop Evan Eary moves him to 3rd with a double. A Skinner single scores them both. Skinner is relieved at second by Platt and he scores the last run of the day when the Eagles make the play on a Fletcher ground ball. The Eagles never hit after the third inning. Hitting for the Pioneers: Skinner - 2 singles; Burba - double; Eary - double; Rogers - 2 singles. Winning Pitcher Gatlin pitched 7 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks and 11 strikeouts.