(Game Played Thursday, May 1, 2008) - TERRE HAUTE, IN
PATRIOTS COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN OVER THE BRAVES
Out in the distance, fans of America's pastime could see a long and winding road of interested visitors to Terre Haute South Vigo High School whose sole purpose this evening was to sit in on a Town Hall Speech prepared by Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. Politics aside, the excitement that took place inside the building couldn't possibly have matched the setting on the diamond. In a game that couldn't have possibly been foreseen, the Terre Haute North Patriots were able to claim a win on the home field of the South Braves by a score of 11-8 in what could only have been said was a wacky game to say the very least. Junior Nick Pilipovich led off the game by earning a nine-pitch base on balls - a true sign that persistence often pays off. Senior Mark Merrill also drew a walk. Both runners advanced bases on a passed ball. Pilipovich then scored on an infield groundout by senior Joe Meggs. With two outs, junior Jared Eller picked up his first RBI of the night with a blooper to right field for a single that scored Merrill. The Patriots took a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.
South added two runs of their own in the bottom of the first as seniors Koby Kraemer and Zach Odum each singled and advanced on two errors committed by the visiting Patriots. Senior Brandon Dorsett managed to get the second and third outs with strikeouts to end the inning with the two crosstown foes knotted at 2.
North threatened in the second and third innings but was unable to score as the Braves played sound defensively and got some effective pitching from freshman A.J. Reed. The Patriots went three up and three down in the fourth. The Braves, however, stole the spotlight in the bottom of the fourth inning as Brock Lough reached first on a Patriot infield error and stole second base. Dorsett struckout the next two South batters before giving up a 2-run towering shot onto the practice football field beyond the left-centerfield fence to the younger Kraemer. Shortly after the bat-flip of the homer, the Patriots were able to get back onto the scoreboard themselves once again.
In the top of the fifth inning, Pilipovich singled to centerfield and advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Merrill walked. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch setting the stage for a sacrifice fly by Meggs that scored Pilipovich. Dorsett walked to put runners at first and second. Eller then deposited a 2-0 pitch over the left-centerfield fence himself to give the Patriots a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning. For South, centerfielder Justin Ferrell was hit by a pitch and scored when Ethan Buske hit a 2-run home run over the left-centerfield fence to tie the game at 6 runs each.
The Patriots stranded Pilipovich at first in the sixth inning after he had reached on a base on balls. South then took control of the game 8-6 when Odum hit a single to right field and then scored on a 2-run home run by Reed.
The seventh inning brought back those memories of persistence initially provided by Pilipovich's game-opening walk. Meggs lined a single to centerfield. With one out, Eller doubled to right-center putting runners at second and third. With two outs, sophomore Andrew Gauer walked to load the bases. Senior Chad Wilguess, playing in his first North-South clash and as yet unable to get on base, drove a 2-2 pitch over the outstretched glove of a diving Justin Ferrell in centerfield that reached the wall for a triple and three RBI's putting the visitors ahead 9-8. Sophomore Parker Fulkerson was then called upon to pinch-hit for the Patriots. And pinch-hit, he did. Fulkerson drove an 0-1 pitch over the leftfield wall for a 2-run home run and an 11-8 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Buske singled to centerfield before giving way to pinch-runner Cyle Toney. Toney was then forced at second base as the Patriots' Wilguess started a 6-4-3 doubleplay for two outs in the inning. Zach Duggins singled to keep the Braves' hopes alive. The game ended as Dorsett fielded a comebacker and raced to first base for the third and final out in the inning securing the victory for the Patriots.
These same two teams are scheduled to meet again Friday night at Patriot Field on the campus of Terre Haute North Vigo High School in a 7pm contest. The Braves are currently 8-9 on the year. Your Patriots are 8-11 overall and 4-5 in the MIC.
For an account of the game as written by Andy Amey of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star, click HERE.
For an account of the game as told by Jason Pensky and filmed by Rick Semmler of WTWO Sports, click HERE.
For an account of the game as told by Jamison Coyle of WTHI Sports, click HERE.