Rocks
sweep Galesburg
in baseball
May 11, 2002 1:08 AM
GALESBURG -- Rock Island knew it had only a slim
chance to remain in the hunt for the Western Big 6 Conference baseball title that they
were favored to win this spring.
The Rocks did what they needed to do here Friday,
sweeping Galesburg 2-0, 7-3 in the twi-night doubleheader at Jim Sundberg Field to also
eliminate the hosting Silver Streaks.
The only problem was that the Rocks were still
eliminated from title contention as Alleman swept the United Township Panthers to secure
at least a share of the crown.
Steve Mumma limited Galesburg to four hits and
one walk in winning the opener.
In the nightcap, the Rocks scored four runs in a
decisive sixth-inning rally.
Rock Island, which defeated the Streaks 14-1 in
Thursday's non-conference tilt, improved to 6-4 in the WB6 and 23-6 overall. Galesburg
fell to 3-5 in the conference and 9-11 overall.
``It's big to come in here (Sundberg Field) and
get two from a quality team,'' said Rock Island coach Andy Campbell. ``It's big in the
conference and because it's so close to (Class AA) tournament time.
``These games showed me something about our team.
They showed me something -- mental and physical toughness -- that I knew was there, but I
wasn't sure if they knew they had it.''
Response to playing in close late-season games
was a factor that weighed heavily on the mind of Galesburg coach Arnold Gonzalez.
``At the beginning of the season, I talked a lot
about that how our guys react to pressure situations would determine how well we did,''
Gonzalez said. ``Tonight, we didn't react to pressure situations well and we lost two
games that were close.''
In Game 2, the Streaks battled back to tie the
contest at 3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marlon LaViolette's sacrifice fly scored
Geoff Dehler with the all-important run. Despite having a runner at third with two outs,
the Streaks couldn't plate another run.
The Rocks responded with four runs in the top of
the sixth off Galesburg starter Todd Bowles.
Starting pitcher Chase Stephens drove in the
go-ahead run and Nick Carmack plated Mumma and Stephens with a two-out single to right.
Three Galesburg errors aided the rally.
``I hope we learned from these mistakes,''
Gonzalez said. ``But by no means am I disappointed with our effort tonight. Not a single
player gave up, so I just hope we can continue to get better and compete.''
In his complete-game gem in the opener, the
right-handed Mumma pitched out of jams in the third and fourth frames. He finished with
four strikeouts and needed just 73 pitches.
``I had all four of my pitches (fastball,
curveball, change-up and cutter) working well,'' Mumma said. ``In another start I threw
just 72 pitches. The main reason for that is that I'm confident I can throw strikes and my
fielders will play well.''
Galesburg's Josh Fields was nearly as sharp as
Mumma. The senior right-hander surrendered a first-inning run scored by Carmack and a
second-inning lead-off home run to Clayton George. Fields allowed six hits, didn't issue a
walk and fanned five.
Copyright 2002, Moline
Dispatch Publishing Co. |
