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Tiger Cubs rally, fall short against Patriots
By CAINE GARDNER
Sports Editor
It's been a snowball effect for the Greencastle baseball team this season. They play solid ball and then have an inning where the game gets away from them.
Thursday against Owen Valley, the Tiger Cubs allowed seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and then made a run in the sixth to show what they're made of.
"We came out with more intensity at the beginning than we have in a while," GHS head coach Troy Burgess said. "We had a big team meeting and talked a lot of things out and they kind of realized some things we weren't doing. One was our defense; we were just standing straight up and not getting down on the ball.
"They played a lot better. We had errors, but most of our errors right now are throwing errors," he added
After falling behind 2-0 in the third, Greencastle's Logan Grzesiek smashed a triple to right-center field to put the Tiger Cubs in prime position to put some much needed runs on the board. At the next at bat, Andy Bell hit a grounder to the shortstop, who gunned down Grzesiek at the plate.
The Tiger Cubs then watched as the Patriots poured on their seven additional runs to take a 9-1 lead into the sixth inning.
Greencastle's stagnant bats came alive in the sixth and the Tiger Cubs threw up four runs in the inning.
"We're not going to win many game getting three hits in five innings and make those errors," Remsburg said. "If we hit like we did in the sixth inning and make those errors, it's a totally different game."
With two outs, Justin Bartrum reached on a walk, followed by singles from Keegan Remsburg and Grzeseik. Bell came to the plate and belted a long drive to centerfield to keep the rally going. When all was said and done, Bartrum, Remsburg, Grzeseik and Bell all crossed the plate for GHS.
Owen Valley tacked on three runs in the seventh to bring the score to its finally tally.
For Greencastle, Ford and Grzeseik had two hits on the evening. Ford had two singles and Grzeseik added a single and a triple. Tanner Battin and Bell led the team with two RBIs each.
Greencastle met Wednesday as a team a discussed their progress this season. Remsburg spoke to the team about what has gone wrong as a team, but emphasized that despite a losing record, the team is far from giving up.
"They showed a big change last night after the meeting," he said. "We just had a little infield workout in the gym and their spirits were totally different. When you're 3-11 and you're struggling, you tend to get down. We had a little pep talk, went over some negative things and then ended it all on positives, what they've done for the team this year.
"Everyone has something positive they've done for the team," Remsburg acknowledged.
Remsburg knows that the season has been on filled with trials, but he knows what his team is made of and what they can still accomplish as a unit.
"I give them credit, we haven't won a lot of game, but they haven't given up very often and they didn't tonight. A few of them are upset, but that's baseball," Remsburg said.
Greencastle will host Southmont at 10 a.m. Saturday.
At Greencastle
Owen Valley 101 341 3 -- 13 15 2
Greencastle 000 014 0 -- 5 7 5
WP -- Christenberry
LP -- Nobles
3B -- Grzesiek (GHS)
2B -- Bell (GHS)
Next game -- Greencastle will host Southmont at 10 a.m. Saturday.