FARMINGTON -- Mediocrity might be a by-word in Jay Harper's vocabulary and the Farmington skipper wants to clean up the Cardinal batting habits.
In the midst of an 8-1 nonconference victory against Ozark on March 6, Harper saw plenty of issues that need worked on.
"At times, we are our own worst enemy," Harper said, while challenging his ball-club to step up -- literally -- and consistently hit the baseball.
Ozark jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by freshman Bryant Burns, marking the first earned run Tyler Gregg has allowed this season in nine innings of pitching.
One of the issues Harper wants corrected is not capitalizing upon opportunity. Ryan Larkin had a single in the bottom of the first inning, but was left stranded at first base. Ozark led 1-0 going into the second inning, but the Hillbillies would get no more runs.
"We had some individuals play really well," Harper said, emphasizing he wants to see that develop throughout the lineup.
Gregg retired the side in order in the second inning with the help of an outstanding defensive stop at third base and throw to first for the out by Larkin.
In the second, Farmington began to show some offense. Kelton Price and Eric Morales led off the inning with walks. Logan Bobak laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third base. Will Danenhauer then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Price. Trenton McChristian got in the act, hitting an RBI double to score Eric Hill, pinch running for Morales. Farmington led 2-1 after two innings.
Gregg continued to show he meant business on the mound, again striking out the Hillbillies in order to make swift work of the third inning.
Larkin once more came out swinging, leading off the third inning with a double. Gregg was walked and replaced by courtesy runner Cameron Bracy. Tripp Chaney moved them to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Price then smacked a two-run double for a 4-1 Farmington lead.
The Cardinals weren't done, yet. Bobak was issued a walk and Danenhauer belted a single to score Price and Bobak after both had advanced one base on a passed ball. Farmington was in front, 6-1, after three innings.
In the fourth, Gregg issued a pair of walks and hit one batter but still managed to strike out the side. Dougan Phillips was pitching for Ozark and, despite giving up a single to Larkin, didn't allow any runs. He induced Gregg into a pop up, which was dropped in the infield. Anticipating a catch and not wanting to be involved in a double play, Ryan waited at first and was thrown out before he could reach second.
A walk put another Cardinal baserunner on, but with two men on, Phillips ended the inning with a called strike three, something Harper wants to change with a runner in scoring position.
Eric Hill entered the game in the fifth inning as the relief pitcher and started off with back to back walks. Harper went out to the mound and from that point, Hill settled down. Phillips bunted, which Hill dropped but quickly retrieved and threw out a runner at third. The Cardinals turned a double-play by getting another runner out at second. Hill secured a third out when he got Burns to pop up. Playing first base, Gregg made the catch in foul territory.
Farmington was retired in order in the fifth inning with a runner tagged out at first, followed by a ground-out, then a fly out. Hill pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Gregg furthered his cause at the plate with a towering two-run homerun in the sixth inning for an 8-1 Farmington lead. Blake Putnam pitched the seventh inning and walked two and struck out the side to end the game.
Larkin went 3 for 4 with a double. Price had a double and two RBIs. Danenhauer had a hit and three runs batted in, McChristian had a double and an RBI. Gregg was the winning pitcher to go to 1-0. He allowed one earned run in four innings of work with 9 strikeouts. Gregg has 14 strikeouts thus far on the year in 9 total innings of pitching. With the win, the Cardinals improved to 3-2 on the season.
Sports on 03/15/2017