Mustangs Have Too Much Offense For Shamrock

     The Mustangs were back at home on Monday, April 1, to take on the Irish of Shamrock. The game was windy and cold, after having nice weather earlier in the day. 

     Tate Wilkerson started on the mound for the Mustangs with Bradley Cornell behind the plate. Things got off to a rough start seeing four straight Shamrock batters reach on walks, with one crossing home. Seth Skarke quickly took over on the mound. A strikeout got the first much needed out for the Mustangs. A single to right brought two more runners across to score. A fielder's choice had the batter out at first on a throw from Wilkerson to L. Johnson, but another run scored. Skarke followed with a strikeout to get the Mustangs out of that inning.
     The Mustangs shook off the start of the game to get their bats going. Zach Johnson started things off with a walk. Tyler Peden took one for the team and reached on a hit by pitch. Wilkerson got a sac fly to score Z. Johnson, and Skarke hit a fielder's choice to score Peden. Cornell hit a single to short right, and Maison Mays drew a base on balls. Both runners moved around the bases to get into scoring position, and on a Teron Webb single to right both Cornell and Mays scored. Taylor Austin got four balls to get on the bases. Webb scored on a passed ball by the catcher, and Austin was able to score on a balk. That brought on a new pitcher for Shamrock. Morrow drew a walk from the new pitcher to reach, but a pop-up ended the inning. After one, the score was 6-4.

     The Mustangs made quick work of the Irish going three up three down. Skarke struck out two, and Wilkerson threw one out at first.
     Peden drew a base on balls to start the bottom of the second. A pop up caught by the pitcher got the first out. Skarke roped a double to right center to score Peden. Another pop up and a ground out sent the Mustangs back onto the field. The score was 7-4.

     Back to back ground balls were fielded cleanly by L. Johnson at first for two put outs. A walk allowed the next batter to reach. The next batter reached on a fielding error. However, after a quick recovery from Morrow, an absolute textbook perfect relay ensued. Morrow to Peden to Cornell to throw out the runner going into home. It was beautiful, and left the Shamrock coach so stunned he just stood a gawked!
     Webb got on the bags with a walk, and then stole second and third to move into scoring position. Austin reached on an error that allowed Webb to score, and him to get on second. After a fly out, Z. Johnson got on with a walk. Austin stole third and on the attempt to throw him out the catcher made a throwing error. This allowed Austin to come home safely. A sac fly from Peden brought Z. Johnson across. A ground out ended the inning. After 3, the score was 10-4.

     Two walks got two runners on. The runner on second got caught too far off the bag and got tagged in a run down from Skarke to Peden to Mays. After another walk, a fielder's choice had the runner out at second and a run across. A single to short right scored another run for Shamrock. A fielding error allowed another run to cross before a strikeout.
     The bottom of the fourth started with Skarke getting hit by a pitch. A fly ball got the first out. A single to left center by Mays scored Skarke. Webb had an infield single, that on the throw had an error that allowed Mays to score. A fielder's choice had the next out for the Mustangs. Morrow started a two out rally by hitting a single to left to score Webb. A single by Z. Johnson had two runners on. Peden stepped up to the plate and blasted a triple to right field to score Morrow and Z. Johnson. Wilkerson got on with a hit by pitch before Skarke hit a single to right that scored Peden and Wilkerson. Cornell hit a single up the middle to reach. An error by the second baseman allowed Mays to reach and Skarke to score. Webb came to the plate next and rocked a ball to deep right field for an In-the-Park Home run that scored Cornell, Mays, and Webb. Austin hit a single to right, before a line drive was snagged to end the inning. The Mustangs lead 21-7.

     The top of the fifth started with a walk. It was followed by a put out by L. Johnson. A single to short right had two runners on. A strikeout got out number two, before a walk loaded the bases. A strikeout from Skarke ended the game before any Irish could come home. Mustangs won 21-7.

     Skarke had 7 strikeouts in the game and hit a double. Peden got a triple for the Mustangs, and Webb got a home run.