Published: May 07, 2008 02:57 pm            

Baseball Foxes run record to16-5

Regional coming up next week

By CHARLES PENDELL

Sports correspondent

McLEANSBORO — The baseball Foxes of coach Jeff Gray had a 3-0 week as they improved their season record to 16-5 with five games left on their regular schedule before they host the Class 2A Regional at Rod Karcher Field next week.

On April 28, the Diamond Foxes made a short trip up to Wayne City and stormed out to a commanding 16-6 lead in the fourth, but had to hold off a mad comeback by the Indians to finally prevail 24-18.

The Foxes traveled over to take on Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher on April 29 and played one of their best defensive games of their whole season as they came away with a very hard fought 2-1 victory over the Tornadoes, taking the lead in the top of the seventh and stifling the Tornadoes in the bottom of the seventh to pick up their 15th win of the year.

The Foxes finished up the week on May 1 as they hosted the Elkville Falcons to town and crushed the visitors 19-0 improving their record to 16-5 on the season.



Foxes vs. Wayne City

The Foxes traveled up to Wayne City on April 28 and jumped out to a 16-6 lead at the top of the fourth inning. The host Indians began an uprising in the bottom of the fourth and cut the Fox lead down to 16-15 scoring nine runs in the inning. The Foxes slowly regrouped and added a little cushion scoring two in the fifth, four in the sixth and two in the seventh to dart back in front 24-15. The Indians managed three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t get any closer as the Foxes held off the late Indian rally to win 24-18.

The Foxes used four different pitchers as Cal Muehlenbein picked up the victory on the hill, followed by Lee Donelson, Orry Rogers and Tanner Spicuzza who picked up the save.

The Foxes banged out 19 hits on the afternoon as Caleb Kirsch led the way with a single and a home run and three RBIs, Kane Smith three doubles and three RBI’s, Brandon Webb three singles and three RBI’s, Brody Mitchell two singles and a home run and six RBIs, Luke Bowman a single and double and one RBI, Rhet Vaughan a double and one RBI, Robert Rubenacker a double, Spicuzza a single and two RBIs, Orry Taylor a double and one RBI, Justin Webb and Josh Hall each with a single. Also seeing action was Kyle Mitchell, Justin Barnard, Ben Scattone and David Hunt.

“Our mental approach was not where it should have been,” coach Jeff Gray said. “We played OK to start and we ended up winning the game, but I think our JV kids learned a lesson in that game which is good. We had a talk Tuesday about not missing opportunities and approaching the teams that are not as good as us the same way we approach teams are as good or better than us. If they’ll do that, everything will work out.



Foxes vs. ZRC

The Foxes headed over to Zeigler on April 29 and displayed a defensive gem to Fox fans defeating the Tornadoes 2-1. This contest was not decided until the very last pitch as senior Orry Taylor improved his record to 5-1 with an outstanding job on the hill striking out six, walked two and allowed six hits in the seven inning battle. Even though ZRC had an advantage in the hitting department with six, the Foxes used their three hit attack and a 6-3 ground out by Justin Webb to score two runs to secure the win. The Foxes defense turned a double play and then caught a fly out in left to end the contest on top 2-1.

Picking up hits were Smith with a double, and Bowman with two singles and one RBI. J. Webb also had one RBI for the game winner.

“This was a real good ball game against Zeigler,” Gray replied. “Orry threw real well for only having one pitch on the afternoon. He left his change up in McLeansboro and his curve ball was left half way between Zeigler and McLeansboro, so he beat them on one pitch and that is a testament to how good Orry is. We had great defense behind him and they played well. We made the plays when we needed to. Our normal third baseman Brandon Webb that starts when Orry is pitching had an eye problem and couldn’t see, so we put Clint Hopfinger just a freshman in there and you know how baseball goes. When you have somebody that’s not real experienced in spots the ball seems to always find them. And it found him about five times and two times in crucial situations and he made some real good plays. He kept a couple of runs from scoring. I was real proud of him and Zeb Gidcumb made a play in the top of the seventh that was unbelievable. That won the ball game for us.”



Foxes vs. Elkville

The Foxes played their last game of the week on May 1 as they returned home to Rod Karcher field and simply demolished the Elkville Falcons 19-0. Kane Smith pitched a one-hitter, striking out five, walked three and allowed only one triple in the bottom of the fifth.

Leading the battery on the day was Kirsch single and double and two RBI’s, Hopfinger two singles and one RBI, Bowman single and two RBI’s, Brody Mitchell two singles and one RBI, Gidcumb, Taylor and Justin Barnard one single and one RBI each, Spicuzza and Rogers each with a single. The Foxes also had 14 walks on the day.

“Kane had a no-hitter going into the top of the fifth and they hit for a triple with two outs,” Gray said. “He threw the ball well and Kane’s one that we know can pitch whenever we need him, but he is so good as a catcher and we don’t want to ruin him by having him do both all the time. Kane has a good future ahead of him and we’re not going to push him as much as we probably could. He knows that when we call on him that he will be ready to go. There is no doubt in my mind. He is a heck of a competitor. We hit the ball well and the varsity did their job and the JV came back in and they played like they were suppose to. Their mental attitude was where it should be and I think they learned that lesson on Monday. And that is a good thing, they got a chance to get right back on the field and prove themselves. I’m proud of them.”

The Foxes travel to Carterville for a conference showdown on Friday, May 9, head to Galatia on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. and then head down to Marion to Rent One Park on Tuesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m., taking on Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher.

        

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