WALNUT GROVE - Macks Creek traveled to Walnut Grove on Friday night for a PCL match-up against the Tigers and left with a 12-3 loss.

The Pirates started off strong with two runs in the top of the first.  Cole Register doubled off the top of the wall in right field and Colton Walter was hit-by-a-pitch to put runners at first and second.  Hunter Lane followed with a long fly ball to left center field, where the fielder made a running-lunge and caught the ball before crashing into the fence.  Register and Walter both tagged up, with Cole making a dash for third.  The relay throw caught was wide and sailed into the dugout and allowed him to score while Colton moved to second on the play.  Trever Smith followed with a ball to short that was misplayed and moved the runner to third before Oscar Cortez collected an RBI on a fielder's choice for an early 2-0 lead.

Walnut Grove responded with two of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.  Zach Hejna was hit-by-a-pitch before Jon Smith blasted a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw to right.  Back-to-back strike outs would end the inning at 2-2.

Until the sixth the Macks Creek offense struggled to get back up and going.  The Tigers, however, were able to take the lead in the bottom of the third.  Zach Hejna walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third, and then scored when the pick-off throw went into left field.  In the fourth Walnut Grove plated five runs to increase their lead to 8-2.  Michael Stogsdill walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Dawson Meinders walked ahead of an AJ Ortiz sacrifice bunt.  On the play, the throw to first was in the dirt and bounced by the first baseman.  Both Stogsdill and Meinders would score with Ortiz moving to third.  After a strike out Tyler Davis was hit-by-a-pitch before Ryan Keith launched a three-run home run deep over the wall in left.  Following a pitching change two of the next three batters would reach before the third out was recorded.

Macks Creek plated their final run in the sixth.  Cole Register singled to left and advanced to second on a wild before Colton Walter drew a walk.  Hunter Lane hit a ball to short, cutting down Walter, but moved Cole to third and he was able to reach on a fielder's choice.  Trever Smith then knocked a single up the middle for an RBI.  After a strike out for the second out Tanner Smith walked to load the bases, but another strike out would end the inning.  The Tigers plated three more runs in their half of the inning to create the final margin.

"Offensively we came out very strong tonight with those two first inning runs," commented Coach Jason Trusty, "we just weren't able to maintain the rhythm that we had and keep things going."

Tanner Smith (1-2) suffered the loss with three-and-one-third innings of work.  He was touched for eight runs, three earned, on three hits while walking four, hitting three, and striking out five batters.  Colten Walter relieved and worked two-and-two-thirds innings, allowing one run on no hits while walking four and hitting one batter.  Grant English relieved and was touched for three unearned runs on one hit, while striking out one and hitting three.

Ryan Keith worked six-and-two-thirds innings before being lifted due to pitch count in picking up the win.  He struck out eight, walked three, and hit two batters while surrendering three runs, only one earned.  Gavin Fortner retired the only batter he faced in the seventh.

For the Pirates Cole Register collected two of the five hits for the club.  He singled, doubled, and scored two runs.  Hunter Lane, Trever Smith, and Grant English all doubled in the contest as well.  Smith collected the only RBI of the day as well.  Colton Walter reached on a hit-by-pitch, and a walk, Oscar Cortez was on by a walk and a fielder's choice, Tanner Smith walked, and Zane Whitowrth was hit-by-a-pitch and walked as well.

Ryan Keith paced the Tigers's offense with a two-for-four day.  He singled, scored, and had a three-run homer.  Jon Smith also collected a home run to go along with two RBI's and a run scored.  Cody Keith collected a two-RBI-double in the contest as well.  Zach Hejna was hit-by-a-pitch, walked, and scored twice, Gavin Fortner walked twice, Michael Stogsdill walked, was hit-by-a-pitch, and scored two runs, Dawson Meinders walked twice and was beaned once to go along with three runs scored, and AJ Ortiz was beaned three times, had a sacrifice bunt, and scored twice.  Tyler Davis was hit-by-a-pitch and reached on a strike out, as well as scored a run.

Macks Creek falls to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in PCL play while Walnut Grove improves to 9-2 and 4-0 in the PCL.  The Pirates return to action Monday when they travel to Stoutland.  They play host to Skyline on Tuesday night before welcoming in the Indians from the School of the Osage on Thursday.  All game times are slated for 5:00 p.m.

The Macks Creek JV dropped an 8-4 decision in the night cap.

Carsen Strutz started and took the loss.  He worked the first two innings, allowing five runs, one earned, on two hits while striking out four and walking two.  Zack Wallace worked the third inning and was touched for three runs, one earned, on no hits while walking two batters.

Tanner Smith walked twice and scored two runs, Preston Borgmeyer also walked twice and scored once, Zack Wallace, Isaiah Schmidt, Chris Willey, and John Perez were all hit-by-pitches, with John scoring a run as well.

The JV Pirates are now 0-4 overall.

VARSITY BOX SCORE

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

MC

2

0

0

0

0

1

0

3

5

4

WG

2

0

1

5

1

3

 

12

4

2