(Game Played Monday, April 21, 2008) – TERRE HAUTE, IN

NORTH TOPS PREVIOUSLY UNBEATEN ROX

            The state’s 6^th-ranked Rockville Rox came to town Monday evening to strengthen their case as one of the premier baseball programs in Indiana against the snake-bitten Patriots of Terre Haute North. Junior pitcher Wade Bush (2-0) had a different idea on his mind. Staked to a 3-0 lead, Bush pitched five strong innings allowing only two hits while striking out seven before giving way to North closer and fellow junior Keaton O’Laughlin (2 Saves). Wade’s lone drawback on the evening was the collection of four walks issued during the outing. Though O’Laughlin gave up single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, he was able to stymie Rockville’s challenges by getting strikeouts with the bases loaded in the sixth and with a runner at third base in the seventh.

            The scoring began for the Patriots in the bottom of the first inning as junior Nick Pilipovich (0-for-2, run scored) was hit by a pitch followed by a single to center field by senior Mark Merrill (2-for-3, run scored). Senior Joe Meggs (0-for-1, 2 bb) walked to load the bases. Pilipovich then scored as Brandon Dorsett (1-for-3, 2b, rbi) reached base on an RBI fielder’s choice that forced Meggs out at second base. Junior Jared Eller (1-for-2, hbp, rbi, 2 runs scored) grounded out to shortstop scoring Merrill for an early 2-0 lead for Terre Haute North. Dorsett, a senior, had stolen second base and advanced to third on Eller’s ground out but was unable to score as the third out in the inning was made. The Patriots went down in order in both the second and third innings.

            The bottom of the fourth inning could have been huge for the Patriots, but Rockville showed why they were unbeaten going into the game and limited Terre Haute North to a lone run during the rally. The inning began with a leadoff double by Dorsett. Eller attempted to sacrifice Dorsett to third base but was blessed with an infield single as his hustle left the Rox without a play on the perfectly placed bunt. Rockville’s catcher then turned a sure wild pitch into an out as he blocked an errant effort by the pitcher into a tag play at the plate when Dorsett was called out in a botched hustle effort. Eller advanced to third during the melee. Sophomore Dougie Collett (1-for-3, rbi) singled to left field scoring Eller to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead after four innings of play.

            The Rox were able to score an unearned run in the top of the sixth only to have the Patriots match that feat in the bottom of the inning. Terre Haute North took advantage of a hit batsman (Eller), a sacrifice bunt by senior Andrew Bledsoe that saw him take first base, and two Rockville errors for Eller to score despite logging no hits in the inning and seeing three batters go to the plate and striking out. Rockville scored another lone run in the top of the seventh on a single and RBI triple. The runner was left stranded at third, however, as O’Laughlin once again proved to be a steady and strong reliever to seal the victory for the Patriots.

            Though the win was huge for the team from northern Vigo County, there’s no time to bask in the glory of knocking off the mighty Rox (9-1). Terre Haute North (6-7) will host the Warren Central Warriors tonight in an MIC affair set to begin at 6pm. Tuesday’s game will be the sixth of ten games in a twelve day stretch for the improving Patriots.