Rock Island High School Baseball Player Grant Snyder
drives a single up the middle against Joliet Catholic

Winners of 16 of 20 games, the Rock Island Rocks couldn't afford to take lightly the United Township Panthers, who had lost 13 of 15, in a Western Big 6 baseball doubleheader Monday.

Grant Snyder made sure of that, providing a key, two-run, fifth-inning double that helped the Rocks prevent one of the biggest upsets of the Big 6 season. The Rocks prevailed 5-4 after winning the doubleheader opener in easy fashion, 10-0, at the Rock Island High School diamond.

Struggling at the plate as RI built its stellar record, Snyder went 3-for-4, driving in two and reaching base six times in seven plate appearances.

``I've been working really hard at practice, and it just showed up today. It will just give me more confidence at bat,'' said Snyder.

Added Rock Island coach Andy Campbell, ``Grant had a real big outing with two RBIs and that is something that he has been missing.''

Rock Island had lost three out of four games going into the doubleheader. The Rocks (18-4) are 4-2 in the conference. Snyder's double was crucial because UT, with its record now at 2-15, 0-6 in the conference, had opportunities in a couple of innings to drive in key runs that could have led to a big upset.

United Township went up 2-0 thanks to three walks, two hit-batsmen and an infield hit by Rich Moller in the second inning. The only thing to save the Rocks was a pop-up on a bunt that resulted in a double play.

UT added two runs in the seventh inning, again benefitting from three walks and singles from Kyle Dirck and Corey Resetich.

In the second, third and fifth innings of the nightcap, the Panthers left seven runners in scoring position.

``It has become a common theme of not getting runs when we've needed to,'' UT coach Jason VanHoutte said.

The first game was all Rock Island. The Rocks banged out 13 hits in a game ended by the mercy rule. It was Rock Island's biggest offensive production in about three weeks, according to catcher and cleanup hitter Jake Meisenbach.

Campbell believed it was just a matter of time before the team broke out.

``I think our guys have had the same approach,'' he said. ``They've faced good pitching and it's just been a matter of time before our guys came to play.''

Tops offensively for the Rocks in the one-run win were Nick Carmack with three hits and three RBIs; Jake Vroman with two hits; and Meisenbach with a run-scoring triple to the farthest part of park in left-center field.

Snyder reached base all four times he went to the plate in the first game. He had two singles and was hit by two pitches.

Steve Mumma (3-1) got the win in game one, allowing four hits in five innings.

``He has been our ace,'' Campbell said. ``Clayton (George) was early (in the season), but Steve has been lately. He competes.''

Copyright 2002, Moline Dispatch Publishing Co.