Xavier Manning pitched 1.1 innings and had three strikeouts. He additionally drove in a run within the fourth inning.
Pictures by Drew Terhall | The Day by day Advocate
By Drew Terhall
DailyAdvocate.com
GREENVILLE — It was one other thrilling baseball sport between Greenville senior ACME and the Greenville American Legion Submit 140 Thunder program. The Thunder bought the win once more because the 18U workforce received 7-4 at Sater Heights Park on July 19.
Thunder head coach Chad Henry stated the workforce performed a bit younger to start out the sport off, however fought their method to the win. The pitching from Greenville and former Thunder participant Ricky Heidrich challenged the Thunder early on. The battles between the Thunder and Heidrich made for a enjoyable begin to the sport.
“He in all probability needed to pitch effectively towards us. He performed within the group for a pair years. He got here out and he was nails, that’s the man we bear in mind. It was enjoyable for them to come back out and a number of the guys bought to see him for the primary time. It was fairly cool to look at,” Henry stated.
For Greenville senior ACME, it was the final sport of their season. Head coach Ryan Delk stated the workforce went into the sport wanting to only calm down and have enjoyable. With the gamers taking part in unfastened, the workforce did simply that.
“I’m pleased with our guys. I simply advised them, ‘Thanks for enjoying for me, with me.’ It’s a workforce sport. I like this sport and it’s gamers like that, that make me wish to hold teaching yr after yr,” Delk stated. “We simply got here out planning on having a superb time and that’s precisely what we did.”
Greenville was coming off a loss to the 16U Lightning workforce the place they scored 4 runs within the backside of the seventh inning. The bats continued to roll on this one because the workforce scored two runs within the backside of the primary to go up 2-0 early.
Drew Hamilton and Trevor Mardin each drove in a run. Within the high of the second, Heidrich rode the momentum created from the offense and struck out the aspect.
However within the high of the third, the Thunder had bases loaded. Trey Schmelzer and Bryce Blumenstock each drove in a run to tie the sport at 2-2. Then with two outs within the high of the fourth, the Thunder scored two runs to take the lead. Xavier Manning drove in one of many two runs.
The scoring continued for the Thunder. Aiden Psczulkoski made it 5-2 within the high of the fifth with a RBI double. They scored two extra runs to make it 7-2 after 5 innings.
However identical to their final sport, Greenville didn’t go quietly into the evening. Hamilton had a RBI double and Layne Hocker drove in a run within the remaining body to try to spark a comeback. The Thunder didn’t panic and bought the ultimate out to safe the win.
Heidrich pitched 3.2 innings and had six strikeouts. Blumenstock pitched 3.1 innings and had 5 strikeouts. Hocker had two strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched. Manning had three strikeouts in 1.1 innings and Psczulkoski had two in 2.1 innings pitched.
The Thunder will compete within the nineteenth annual Springfield Armoloy Memorial Event on July 21-23 in Springfield. Henry stated whereas they have been disenchanted with their district match play final weekend, he has a younger and hungry workforce that has a vivid future forward of them.
“I hate to say we’re constructing ahead since you simply by no means know what a workforce can do. However this workforce, there’s a number of good characters in that dugout and I’m excited to go ahead with them,” Henry stated.
For Greenville, they finish their season in one other shut sport. The file isn’t the prettiest, however the workforce battled and have been shut in a majority of their video games.
Delk stated it was powerful to constantly get the identical group of fellows to play collectively through the summer time with everybody have totally different commitments all through the season. However, the workforce nonetheless bought 9 gamers to point out up and be aggressive all season lengthy.
The numbers additionally didn’t have an effect on Delk’s most important objective, to try to make each higher ultimately.
“Most nights, we confirmed up with 9 and performed with 9. Everyone bought to play, in order that’s nice,” Delk stated. “I like to do that in the summertime as a result of I simply wish to come out and make them higher. That’s what we did all summer time. Everyone on this workforce bought higher, whether or not it was in baseball or life.”
Contact Day by day Advocate sports activities editor Drew Terhall at [email protected]
Originally posted 2023-07-20 12:54:22.