MACKS CREEK - Macks Creek snapped their four game losing streak with a 9-2 win over Hermitage on Tuesday night.
Macks Creek plated their first runs in the bottom of the first. Grant English reached on an error by the shortstop and was able to advance to second on the overthrow at first. Ethan English singled to right to move Grant to third and then stole second. Both would advance a base, with Grant scoring when Trever Smith struck out swinging and drew a throw to first. Tanner Smith followed with an RBI-groundout to short. A ground out on a ball in front of the plate ended the inning.
The Pirates plated their second run in the second inning. Austin Brown and Dakota Willis drew back-to-back walks and moved up on a wild pitch. Following a strike out, Kyler Gabriel laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first. Brown scored on the play and Willis moved to third. A fly out and a groundout stranded the runner at third.
The score would remain 3-0 until the fourth when Hermitage plated their first run.With one out Kavon Wright reached on an infield single. He stole second and then moved to third when Garrett Peterson's ground ball to short was misplayed. Evan Scott then hit a ball through the right side to plate Wright and cut the lead to 3-1.
Hermitage plated their second run in the top of the fifth. With one out Cason Hickey made it to first and advanced to second on an overthrow to first. A single off the bat of Justus Yates moved Hickey to third on a single to center and Justin Mitchell singled to right plate Cason. Bryce Franse singled to load the bases but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
Macks Creek responded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach. Ethan English, Trever Smith, and Tanner Smith all walked to lead off the inning. Following a pitching change and a strikeout, Austin Brown walked to push in Ethan, Dakota Willis walked to score Trever, and pinch hitter Tyler Newcomb was hit-by-a-pitch to push in Tanner. With a second pitching change and the second out recorded on a strikeout, Grant English walked to score Brown. Ethan English singled to plate Willis and a fly out to center ended the inning with the Pirates ahead 8-2. They plated a single tally in the bottom of the sixth to create the final margin.
"It was nice to see us finally able to score some runs and pick up a win," commented Coach Trusty, "we may not have had a lot of hits, but we were patient at the plate and our pitching continued to throw strikes."
Tanner Smith (1-2) picked up his first win of the Spring with his five-and-two-thirds innings of work. He struck out 13, walked one, and allowed two unearned runs on seven hits. Dakota Willis relieved and worked the final inning-and-a-third. He allowed two hits and struck out one.
Bryce Franse started and took the loss for the Hornets. He worked the first four-plus innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on three hits while striking out seven and walking six. Justin Horn relieved in the fifth and worked one-third of an inning, allowing two runs while striking out one, walking two, and hitting one batter. Justus Yates worked the final inning-and-two-thirds. He allowed one unearned run on one hit while striking out one, walking two, and hitting three batters.
Offensively Ethan English placed the Pirates' offense with his two-for-three night. He also scored two runs, walked, and had an RBI. Trever Smith singled, walked, and scored, and the final hit was an RBI-bunt-single by Kyler Gabriel. Grant English reached on an error, walked, scored a run, and had an RBI, Tanner Smith walked once, was beaned once, scored twice, and had an RBI, and Hunter Harris was hit-by-a-pitch. Austin Brown walked three times, scored twice, and had an RBI, Dakota Willis walked twice, scored once, and had an RBI, and Keith Edelman walked once and was hit-by-a-pitch. Tyler Newcomb was hit-by-a-pitch and had an RBI.
Justin Mitchell and Kavon Wright each went two-for-four to lead the Hornets offense. Mitchell singled in a run and doubled while Wright singled twice and scored once. Cason Hickey reached on an error, singled, and scored, Justus Yates walked and singled, and Bryce Franse singled. Garrett Peterson reached on an error, Evan Scott had an RBI-single, and Wyatt Mooney reached on an error and singled.
Macks Creek improves to 3-5 while Hermitage falls to 1-8. The Pirates take to the road on Thursday night for a PCL tilt with the Walnut Grove Tigers.
The Macks Creek JV picked up their first win of the Spring with a 4-2 victory in the night cap.
Preston Borgmeyer started and picked up the win. He worked the only two frames (time limited game) and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out four and walking two.
Jose Cortez and Nolan Donathan collected a single each for the only two hits. Cortez also drove in two runs and scored once while Donathan also crossed the plate. Isaiah Schmidt walked and was hit-by-a-pitch, Tyler Newcomb walked and scored, Austin Brown walked and scored, and Kyler Gabriel had an RBI-groundout.
The JV Pirates improve to 1-4 with the win.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
HHS 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 9 3
MC 2 1 0 0 5 1 X 9 4 3