Veteran Rocky
squad spanks UT
Jason VanHoutte looked across the diamond
Thursday and saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
``Rock Island had their struggles with playing
young kids the last few years, but now you see the result of that,'' the United Township
baseball coach said after a 12-2 loss to the red-hot Rocks at UT.
``We're playing four sophomores and a freshman
for the same reason. Even though things get a little rugged from time to time, we hope
it'll pay off in the end for us.''
The Panthers' downpayment on the future included
seven errors, seven issued walks, a hit batsmen, a pair of passed balls and a wild pitch
in a non-conference contest shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.
The victory was Rocky's 11th in 12 starts, and
marked the fourth early knockout of the season for the Rocks. UT fell to 2-5.
Both teams open Western Big 6 Conference play
Saturday, each hosting doubleheaders. Rocky welcomes Quincy; UT draws 3-time defending
league champion Moline.
``We're ready to go Saturday,'' announced Rocks
coach Andy Campbell. ``I like our approach at the plate right now. We're being patient,
and hitting our pitch and not giving in to the pitcher. We're doing a great job of putting
the ball in play.''
The Rocks registered eight hits, including three
doubles -- two by Jason Amble (2-for-3) and the other from Jim Wignall (2-for-3, 1 RBI).
Steve Mumma (1-for-3, 2 RBIs), Jacob Meisenbach
(1-for-3, 1 RBI) and Grant Snyder (1-for-4, 1 RBI) also had run-scoring singles.
Rocky also stole seven bases, four by Nick
Carmack. Mumma, Meisenbach and Jake Vroman (1-for-2) notched the other swipes.
However, the Panthers were also all-too-gracious
hosts, surrendering nine unearned runs.
Two UT errors aided a five-run first inning for
Rocky. Four more miscues marked a three-run fourth frame for the visitors. With two outs
in the fifth, an error mixed with six straight free passes (one the hit batter) to push
across four Rocky runs without the aid of a hit.
``You can't do that against a good team,''
VanHoutte said about UT's many mistakes. ``We had two errors in our doubleheader last
weekend, and we turn around and make that many in the first inning. We're a better
defensive team than that.''
Rocky pitcher Justin Morelock (2-0) went the
distance, fanning five and scattering three hits and a walk.
Morelock pitched out of a no-out, bases-loaded
jam in the first, and cruised from there after allowing just one run in the frame.
``He did exactly what we ask our pitchers to do
-- work ahead in the count, and work the ball down,'' Campbell said. ``He might not have
been flashy, but he was certainly effective.''
UT's highlights included a 2-for-2 plate
performance by one of its sophomores Kyle Dirck, who also made a couple of nice defensive
plays in centerfield. UT cleanup hitter Ben Sacco (1-for-2) also drove in a run, and later
had a leadoff double.
Sacco (0-1) started for the Panthers and worked
three innings, allowing just two hits after the big first inning.
Sacco and the first of three Panther relievers,
Kyle Stanton, were seeing their first mound action of the season after missing almost all
of last season with shoulder troubles.
Copyright 2002, Moline Dispatch
Publishing Co. |
