| Jackets' big seventh inning does in Vikes |
By: Stephanie Sturgis - Press Sports Editor
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Posted: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 2:16 pm
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Scoop — Greenfield third baseman Jacob Johnson scoops up a grounder during the Yellowjackets' 10-8 win over Humboldt in the District 14-A tourney Saturday in Union City.
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A wild seventh inning provided the breathing room the Greenfield Yellowjackets needed in a 10-8 win over the Humboldt Vikings in the District 14-A tourney Saturday in Union City.
Greenfield broke a 5-5 tie by plating five runs on four hits in the top of the seventh. The Vikes put three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough.
"It was wild. We were fortunate we got hits when we needed them and to the right spots. I was proud of our kids mental toughness," Greenfield head coach Willie Trevathan said.
The win advances Greenfield to a showdown vs. Dresden at 5 on Wednesday in Union City.
Heath Crouse doubled to open the key GHS at-bat. Daniel Ricketts brought him home with a single. Two more singles and two HHS errors fueled the Jacket offense. Jake Lasater drove in two runs with a single to extend the Jacket lead, 10-5.
In Humboldt's last at-bat, Greenfield starting pitcher Crouse gave up a walk and a single. An error helped load the bases. Left-hander Dalton Potts came to the mound in relief.
Consecutive singles plated two HHS runs. Potts got a fly to right that was caught by outfielder Tyler Jones. Jones hit cutoff man Steven Johnson who fired to third to erase a Viking runner trying to advance. The double play provided the boost Greenfield needed as Jones caught another fly for the third out to end the game with the Jackets winning 10-8.
"A lot of this game is mental and Tyler did a great job of hitting the cutoff man in a big spot," Trevathan said.
With Humboldt leading 2-0 after one inning, the Jackets cut their deficit in half when Steven Johnson smashed a shot to the gap in right center and rambled around the bases for an inside-the-park homer.
Jacob Johnson roped a RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch in the third for a 3-all tie.
Daniel Ricketts was 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run and three stolen bases for the Jackets.
Thursday in Greenfield, Jake Lasater’s two-run shot in the second paired with the combined pitching efforts of Dalton Potts and Heath Crouse powered Greenfield to a 5-0 shutout of the Peabody Golden Tide in the District 14A Tournament.
The Jackets put the first run on the board in the second inning when Steven Johnson doubled and Ty Smithson duplicated Johnson’s efforts and drove him in to make the score 1-0. With Smithson on second, Lasater blasted a shot over the left field fence for a 3-0 lead.
In the third, Potts struck out the first two Tide batters as he kept the visitors off the board. Jacob Johnson then doubled and Steven Johnson singled to drive in the run for a 4-0 GHS lead.
Neither team put together any runs in the fourth and Potts continued to silence the Tide bats in the top of the fifth with two more strikeouts.
Cody Ricketts led off the bottom of the fourth inning and was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice fly from Daniel Ricketts advanced Cody Ricketts to second, he stole third and Jacob Johnson lifted another sacrifice. An error in the outfield let Cody Ricketts score for a 5-0 GHS edge.
Peabody stranded two in both its final two at-bats and Crouse put the game away emphatically with a strikeout to seal the win.
Steven Johnson was the lone Jacket with two base hits. He also drove in and scored a run.
On the mound, Potts got the win. He struck out nine in six innings, walking none and allowing eight hits and four earned runs.
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