Pitching Pushes Squires Past Vikings
May 1, 2018 at 5:11 p.m.
Pitching Pushes Squires Past Vikings
By Zach [email protected]
Junior Grant Strobel started for the Squires (4-5, 3-1 TRC) and struck out nine batters in six innings of work. Senior Hayes Sturtsman came on in relief in the seventh inning and struck out the side, pushing the total to 12 in the contest. Sturtsman has now struck out 21 batters in his last eight innings on the bump and the team has had 30 strikes out in the last two TRC games.
“(Grant) seemed to be off a little bit,” said Manchester coach Jack Rupley. “He just wasn’t quite as sharp as he was last week.”
The Vikings (2-11, 0-4 TRC) may not have wanted to face a couple of the league’s top pitchers, but coach Greg Prater knows it’ll help them in the future.
“I like it for the guys,” he said. “We haven’t seen a lot of really good pitching like that in awhile and hopefully that will prepare them for the playoffs.”
Valley found itself on the scoreboard early in the top of the first inning. After two singles and a walk, junior Wes Melanson drove in a run with a groundball to second base.
Manchester bounced back after a leadoff walk and then junior Mason Meyer ripped an RBI double to tie the game.
“I was glad our bats came around a little bit better,” said Rupley. “We were able to find some gaps.”
In the bottom of the second inning, the Squires brought 11 batters to the plate and tallied six runs on four hits, three walks and two errors to push the lead to 7-1.
The Vikings wouldn’t go away without a fight, however. In the top of the third they scored four runs to make it a 7-5 game. Valley had three hits, including a big two-run double by Melanson. The Squires had two errors in the inning.
“Valley comes after you,” said Rupley. “Those kids get their hacks in. Grant kept pounding the strike zone and they smacked it around.”
Rupley made it a point to know his team needs to fix the miscues on defense if they want to make a run in TRC play and in the postseason.
Manchester broke the game open once again in the bottom of the fourth after plating four runs. The Squires had five hits and two walks in the frame.
Valley tallied two errors on defense and made some nice plays all across the field, but no one stood out more than senior catcher Adam Myers.
In the top of the third, Manchester senior Trey McNall hit a foul ball behind home plate and Myers made a diving catch to secure the out for the team.
“He’s one of our senior leaders,” Prater said. “Behind the plate, he doesn’t let much get behind him. He’s putting himself on the line to help his team win.”
At the plate, Myers had two hits for the Vikings. Melanson finished with three RBIs.
Strobel ended the game with three hits to help himself on the bump. He drove in three runs and stole a base to move from first to second. Junior Mason Meyer had two doubles in the winning effort.
On Wednesday, the Vikings play at Wabash and Manchester hosts Southwood. Both are TRC contests.
MANCHESTER 11, T. VALLEY 6
TV 104 001 0 – 6 9 2
M 160 040 X – 11 12 2
Valley – Layne Prater (L, 3.1IP, 10R, 2BB, 0SO), Lucas Walters (2.2IP, 4H, 1R, 4BB, 1SO)
Manchester – Grant Strobel (W, 6IP, 8H, 6R, 4ER, 1BB, 9SO), Hayes Sturtsman (1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 3SO)
2B – Wes Melanson (TV), Mason Meyer 2 (M), Grant Strobel (M), Hayes Sturtsman (M)
Records: Valley 2-11 (0-4 TRC), Manchester 4-5 (3-1 TRC)
Junior Grant Strobel started for the Squires (4-5, 3-1 TRC) and struck out nine batters in six innings of work. Senior Hayes Sturtsman came on in relief in the seventh inning and struck out the side, pushing the total to 12 in the contest. Sturtsman has now struck out 21 batters in his last eight innings on the bump and the team has had 30 strikes out in the last two TRC games.
“(Grant) seemed to be off a little bit,” said Manchester coach Jack Rupley. “He just wasn’t quite as sharp as he was last week.”
The Vikings (2-11, 0-4 TRC) may not have wanted to face a couple of the league’s top pitchers, but coach Greg Prater knows it’ll help them in the future.
“I like it for the guys,” he said. “We haven’t seen a lot of really good pitching like that in awhile and hopefully that will prepare them for the playoffs.”
Valley found itself on the scoreboard early in the top of the first inning. After two singles and a walk, junior Wes Melanson drove in a run with a groundball to second base.
Manchester bounced back after a leadoff walk and then junior Mason Meyer ripped an RBI double to tie the game.
“I was glad our bats came around a little bit better,” said Rupley. “We were able to find some gaps.”
In the bottom of the second inning, the Squires brought 11 batters to the plate and tallied six runs on four hits, three walks and two errors to push the lead to 7-1.
The Vikings wouldn’t go away without a fight, however. In the top of the third they scored four runs to make it a 7-5 game. Valley had three hits, including a big two-run double by Melanson. The Squires had two errors in the inning.
“Valley comes after you,” said Rupley. “Those kids get their hacks in. Grant kept pounding the strike zone and they smacked it around.”
Rupley made it a point to know his team needs to fix the miscues on defense if they want to make a run in TRC play and in the postseason.
Manchester broke the game open once again in the bottom of the fourth after plating four runs. The Squires had five hits and two walks in the frame.
Valley tallied two errors on defense and made some nice plays all across the field, but no one stood out more than senior catcher Adam Myers.
In the top of the third, Manchester senior Trey McNall hit a foul ball behind home plate and Myers made a diving catch to secure the out for the team.
“He’s one of our senior leaders,” Prater said. “Behind the plate, he doesn’t let much get behind him. He’s putting himself on the line to help his team win.”
At the plate, Myers had two hits for the Vikings. Melanson finished with three RBIs.
Strobel ended the game with three hits to help himself on the bump. He drove in three runs and stole a base to move from first to second. Junior Mason Meyer had two doubles in the winning effort.
On Wednesday, the Vikings play at Wabash and Manchester hosts Southwood. Both are TRC contests.
MANCHESTER 11, T. VALLEY 6
TV 104 001 0 – 6 9 2
M 160 040 X – 11 12 2
Valley – Layne Prater (L, 3.1IP, 10R, 2BB, 0SO), Lucas Walters (2.2IP, 4H, 1R, 4BB, 1SO)
Manchester – Grant Strobel (W, 6IP, 8H, 6R, 4ER, 1BB, 9SO), Hayes Sturtsman (1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 3SO)
2B – Wes Melanson (TV), Mason Meyer 2 (M), Grant Strobel (M), Hayes Sturtsman (M)
Records: Valley 2-11 (0-4 TRC), Manchester 4-5 (3-1 TRC)
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