Pioneers Blast Ricebirds

Head Back to Baum!

published Wednesday, May 11, 2005

On Saturday I will make my fourth consecutive trip to Fayetteville to see the Pioneers compete for a state title. This trip will be very different for me. My son will be watching the game rather than playing it. Three times I watched as he and his teammates fought it out on that field. Twice I saw them fail and then on their third try I experienced their victory in a moment that I will never forget. Saturday, we sit together, his time as a Pioneer finished. And yet, his and every other Pioneer's legacy lives on, in the young men who will take the field Saturday. They embody the Pioneer tradition that we all value so dearly. They carry on their shoulders the expectations and demands of that tradition. They have faced these expectations head on and have already added to the Pioneer tradition with a conference championship. What will be the same for me at Baum is my desire to see the Pioneers victorious. They have worked for it, they have fought for it and they now have it in their grasp. Only Harrison stands against you now. Baum belongs to the Pioneers, and come Saturday I know that every Pioneer who steps on that field will prove it.

The Pioneers lost the toss and for the first time in the tournament were playing as the visiting team. The Ricebird pitcher got off to a rocky start walking Hunter Platt and Nick Davidson. Evan Eary singles to score Platt leaving runners at the corners with Davidson at third. This would be a short duration situation as Chris Milum steps into the box and cranks one out to bring the Pioneers tally to 4 for the inning. The Ricebirds lead batter singles against starting Pioneer pitcher Addison Rayford who was making his third appearance of the tournament, with 2 wins to his credit already. A sac bunt advances the runner to second and another hit puts runners at the corners with 1 out. A ground out to Rayford scores the lead runner and puts the other runner in scoring position. But a great snag by shortstop Nick Davidson leaves him stranded with the score after one complete 4-1 Pioneers. In the second the Ricebird pitcher hits his stride striking out 2 Pioneer batters with only Platt reaching on a single. The Ricebird batters continue to try and close the gap on the Pioneers when a 1 out Pioneer error puts a runner on. He is sac bunted to second and then advanced and joined on the corners with another Stuttgart hit. Another hit scores the lead runner but Rayford strikes out the next batter to shut the Ricebirds down in the second with the score 4-2 Pioneers. The Pioneers stage a 2 out 3 run rally in the top of the third. Clint Walls lead the rally with a double. Jason Angel advances to second when the Ricebird right fielder drops a deeply hit fly ball allowing Walls to score. Rayford doubles, scoring Angel and Kelly Davis gains the last hit and rbi of the inning to bring the score to 7-2 Pioneers. The Ricebirds threaten in the bottom of the inning with a lead off double and single putting runners at 1st and 2nd. But a ball hit to third baseman Jeff Whitener lessens the threat considerably when he fields the ball, tags third and relays the ball to Angel at first for a double play taking the runners off the corners. A great diving catch by left fielder Kelly Davis leaves the Ricebirds scoreless in the inning. The Ricebirds bring in a lefty who sets the Pioneers down in order in the top of the 4th with 2 strikeouts. In the bottom of the inning another Pioneer error allows the lead off batter on base. After 2 hits he scores, but a strikeout and 2 routine plays end the inning with the score 7-3. In the 5th, the Pioneers strike hard with a lead off single by Milum who advances to second when the center fielder misplays the ball. Milum is relieved by Kyle McMullin who is joined by Walls who advances on an infield error by the Ricebirds. Angel loads the bases with an infield single. Coach Rush calls for the patented "Pioneer Squeeze" but the ball is very high and Rayford misses the bunt, leaving McMullin charging toward home. The catcher comes up and sets up on the line where McMullin attempts to dive in and collides with the catcher. McMullin is called out and ejected for "throwing his shoulder". With all runners advanced we go back to the squeeze and this time score Walls with Rayford rounding first and reaching second on the play. Davis puts the ball in play, forcing an error and scoring Angel. With Rayford at third, Casey Aycock lays down the sac bunt, scoring Rayford and advancing Davis to third. Davis scores the final run of the inning on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the fifth a fielding error allows the first Ricebird batter on base. Two consecutive walks load the bases and it appears that Stuttgart may have a rally in the making. However, a ground ball to Aycock at second will start the 4-6-3 double play combination that will result in 1 run and 2 outs for the Ricebirds. Rayford gets the third batter with a looking strikeout. The sixth inning is scoreless with only 1 Ricebird batter reaching base on a walk. In the top of the seventh Angel leads off with a single and is relieved by Ross Simpson. Simpson advances to second on a passed ball and is joined by Rayford who walks. Both advance on a balk by the shaken Stuttgart pitcher. Davis loads the bases with a walk. Aycock attempts the squeeze play but misses the high ball and Simpson is tagged at home. A strikeout and a line drive to first base end the inning for the Pioneers. Stuttgart has their last chance in the bottom of the inning. A lead off fly out is followed by an hp, strikeout, single and fly out to center field to end the Ricebirds hope of a trip to Baum and advance the Pioneers for the fourth consecutive, and eighth total trip to the Finals.