(Game Played Monday, May 5, 2008) – TERRE HAUTE, IN
PATRIOTS DROP GLOVE, TOURNEY DESPITE EARLY LEAD
Terre Haute North took an early 4-0 lead in the second of two conference games between the cross-town rivals at Patriot Field Monday evening. Seniors Mark Merrill and Brandon Dorsett, junior Jared Eller, and sophomore Parker Fulkerson each scored runs in the bottom of the first inning for the Patriots. The onslaught began with a walk issued to Merrill followed by a single by Dorsett. Eller added an RBI single to left field scoring Merrill. Fulkerson then hit a double to left field scoring both Dorsett and Eller. A double by sophomore and starting pitcher Shawn Walker drove Fulkerson in for the fourth run of the inning. Walker was left stranded at second base. The score remained unchanged through the third inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Braves took advantage of two walks issued to cleanup hitter A.J. Reed and Zach Duggins, three singles by Ryan Hunt, Brock Lough, and Evan Luken, and a hit batsman (Koby Kraemer) to knot the score at 4 runs for each team. The top of the fifth inning began very well for the Patriots as the first two hitters for the Braves were retired on five pitches. There were two fielding errors committed by the northsiders and a walk allowed prior to the recording of the third out in the inning. The Patriot miscues permitted the Braves to take a 5-4 lead as Ryan Hunt scored an additional run for the visitors. The bottom of the inning saw the Patriots tying the score at 5 based upon a leadoff single by senior Chad Wilguess followed by back-to-back walks by fellow seniors Keaton Sumner and Andrew Bledsoe. With one out, senior Joe Meggs scored Wilguess with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field. Sophomore Andrew Gauer, who came in to pinch-run for Sumner, and Bledsoe were left at second and third bringing the total of Patriot runners left on base to eleven through five innings.
The Braves took the lead for good in the top of the sixth as Kraemer was hit by another pitch. With one out, Zach Odum singled in the hole at shortstop. Kraemer then scored on an RBI single to center field by freshman A.J. Reed. Odum later scored on a sac fly by designated-hitter Ethan Buske. The score after five-and-a-half innings of play: Terre Haute South 7, Terre Haute North 5.
Headed into the bottom of the seventh, the Patriots knew they were down to their last three outs and needed to have a good start to the inning. Gauer singled to center field. With one out, Merrill singled to left field as Gauer was running on the pitch. Showing great instincts on the base paths, Gauer continued on to third base. Meggs then drove Gauer in with a groundout to first base that also advanced Merrill to second base. A wild pitch later, Merrill stood at third base with two outs and four-hole hitter Brandon Dorsett at the plate. Despite working the count full, the Patriots were unable to Catch a Dorsett Deal as the Braves picked up both the Gold Glove Trophy and the Big Four Championship with the victory.
Terre Haute South 000 412 0 – 7R – 9H – 3E (10 LOB)
Justin Ferrell, Evan Luken (4), A.J. Reed (W, 5) and Ryan Hunt
Terre Haute North 400 010 1 – 6R – 9H – 3E (13 LOB)
Shawn Walker, Keaton O’Laughlin (L, 5), Brandon Dorsett and Joe Meggs
Terre Haute South is now 10-10, and the Patriots are 10-12. Next up for Terre Haute North is a trip to Mooresville Friday, while the Braves play host to the Paris Tigers Tuesday.