Mustangs stay alive with win over Shamrock

The Mustangs took on the Fighting Irish of Shamrock Monday, in a need to win game for the Mustangs. Seth Skarke started on the mound for the Mustangs with Manny Monteiro behind the plate. A hit by pitch on the first pitch started the game. The runner on first took off for second and Monteiro thew down. The ball rolled into the outfield, so the runner went to third. Brady Miller, playing heads up, came in and threw the ball to Bradley Cornell at third. Cornell laid the tag and the runner was out for out number one. Skarke got the second batter with a strikeout, but the third strike was dropped. Monteiro hustled to the ball was able to get the batter out with the throw to Austin Miller at first. Skarke finished with a three up three down on a strikeout. Monteiro started at the plate drawing a walk to reach. Tyler Peden also drew a base on balls to have two on. Tate Wilkerson hit a hard ball towards third that was too hot to handle allowing Monteiro to score. A double play got the first two outs, and then a put out ended the inning. The top of the second was another three up three down for the Mustang defense. Two hits back to Skarke who made the put outs to A. Miller, and a strikeout retired the sides. A strikeout started the bottom of the second. Brandon Nichols took his base on ball four. Jeremiah Hughes then took a nasty hit by pitch to his nose and eye. As far as I know he is doing fine, but please keep in him in your thoughts. Preston Belfield entered the game for Hughes. B. Miller hit a single towards the left line to score Nichols. Monteiro then hit back up the middle and he beat the throw out for a single that scored Belfield. B. Miller was able to score on a passed ball. Peden came to the plate and hit a single to right. Monteiro rounded third on the throw from the outfield and he slid into home. The catcher dropped the ball, Monteiro tagged home, and then the catcher tagged Monteiro with the ball. I guess the umpire couldn't see the hand print on the plate and he called Monteiro out. A pop up to second ended the inning. The top of the third had more three up three down action. The first Irish batter hit a line drive to left, but Nichols showed his speed and caught the ball for out number one. A walk got a batter on the bases. The next batter hit a ball back to Skarke who turned and threw to Peden who threw to A. Miller for the 6-4-3 double play. The bottom of the third started with a single to left hit by A. Miller. A line out to the short stop got out number one. Skarke hit a hard single past the third baseman to score A. Miller. Another line drive was hit but it was snagged by the first baseman for out two. A hit back to the pitcher ended the inning. There was more excellent defense in the top of the fourth. Two strikeouts and a pop up caught by Peden gave the Mustangs their fourth three up three down inning. The Mustangs couldn't get much going in the bottom of the fourth. Two pop ups to the second baseman and a put out from the second baseman ended the inning. The top of fifth started with a hit ball fielded by Skarke who made the put out to A. Miller for out one. Skarke followed with a strikeout. A walk allowed a runner to reach before Skarke got another strikeout to send the Mustangs in. A fly out to left center started the bottom of the fifth. A. Miller came to the plate and rocked a ball to right field for a triple. Cornell hit towards the short stop who made the put out, but Cornell brought in A. Miller for the sacrifice. Skarke hit a single to right that with an error allowed him to reach second. Nichols reached the bases on an error that brought Skarke in safely. Nichols stole second, but on a wild throw by the catcher the ball went into the outfield allowing him to get to third. Jeffrey Tyree came into the game and was able to draw a walk. On ball four the ball went past the catcher. Nichols got a great jump and went to steal home. He made a great head first slide into home and the catcher jumped on him. Once again, Nichols was safe at home but the umpire called him out to end the inning. A walk started the top of the sixth allowing a batter to reach. The next batter hit a sacrifice back to Skarke who made the out to A. Miller to put the runner in scoring position. However, two fly outs courtesy of Cornell and Wilkerson retired the side. B. Miller drew a base on balls to start the bottom of the sixth, but he was picked off first. Monteiro hit a single to right and then Peden hit a single to left to have runners in scoring position. A pop up caught by the short stop and a strikeout ended the inning before the Mustangs could put anymore runs on the board. During the sixth, Mr. Tucker announced a dance competition. Ron Nichols danced like nobody's business to win, and I believe his dance brought on the rain. The top of the seventh started with rain...yes people I said rain. The Irish were able to get some hits in the seventh. The first batter started off with a triple to center. He was followed by a double to left center to get them on the board. The next batter drew a walk, but the runner on second attempted to steal third. Monteiro threw down to Cornell who put the tag on for out number one. A hit by pitch got another batter on the bases. Wilkerson took over on the mound. An error allowed the bases to be loaded with one out. The next batter hit into a fielder's choice that had a runner out at third, but it also scored a run. Wilkerson fought back and got a strikeout to end the game and the rain for a little while. The Mustangs won 7-2. The boys played great defense having only one error. Skarke pitched 6 2/3 innings and had 7 strikeouts on the day, and Wilkerson pitched 2/3 of an inning and contributed one strikeout. The Mustangs had ten hits with A. Miller hitting a triple. The Mustangs will next be in action tomorrow at 4:30 here in Claude versus Follett. Good luck guys!