Greencastle baseball comes up just short at Owen Valley

Friday, May 9, 2014
Kaleb Flemming of Greencastle makes the infield throw to first base in the loss to Owen Valley. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

SPENCER -- After splitting their final WCC series with Monrovia Monday and Tuesday, Greencastle took a trip to future WIC foe Owen Valley Thursday night.

Both squads went on the attack for the first half of the contest but the Tiger Cub bats fell silent late in the game, allowing the Patriots to take a 9-6 decision.

Greencastle head coach Troy Remsburg said that the offensive side of the squad kept the hosts in check but ran out of steam late.

"We're hitting the ball great," Remsburg said. "We played with them until our hits dropped off late.

"Pitching is hurting us. We can't get four or five good innings out of the pitchers but there are a lot of young arms."

After a scoreless first inning, Greencastle scored the opening run through Noah Cook, who singled and was driven in on an Ichiro Mozawa single later in the inning,

In response, Owen Valley pushed four across as starter Anthony Rossok slowly began to lose control and was eventually replaced by Kaleb Flemming after hitting three straight batters.

The Tiger Cubs cut the deficit to 4-3 after scoring a pair of runs in the third inning. Tanner Nicholson led off with a double and came home after Seth Brown's pop-up was missed at second base.

Flemming forced a fielder's choice before Cook pushed across the then-pitcher on a deep single to close the gap to a single run.

The Patriots added two more runs in the bottom of the inning but Greencastle replied with three runs to tie the game at 6-6 in the fourth.

Brant Mangrum walked, took second and third and was driven in on a Nicholson sac fly to center field. Holden King singled, Seth Brown walked and after both advanced on a wild pitch, Flemming singled to score both runners and draw the scores level.

Mangrum took to the hill shortly thereafter for Flemming and gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning and one more in the fifth.

Though there were a pair of scoreless innings involved, Remsburg said the squad was learning about the game the hard way.

"Anthony pitched well in his first inning but then he hit a couple of guys and it's something he has to work through," Remsburg said. "Kaleb got us out of the (second) inning but he was a little gassed from the other night.

"Brant started off a little slow but he ended the game pitching very well. All these guys showed some of the parts of the growing pains of having a young squad."

Greencastle's best chance to get runs back was snuffed out in the fifth inning when a deep Nicholson drive was caught on the run, sucking the life out of the squad according to Remsburg.

"We have two runners on when Tanner smashed the ball to dead center field," Remsburg noted. "Ten feet either way and it's at least a double.

"That would have cleared the bases and it was a momentum killer. He hit the ball hard but the kid made a great play."

The Tiger Cubs got a pair of runners on in the seventh before Mangrum grounded out to end the inning and the game, dropping Greencastle to 3-11.

With a trip to Southmont on Saturday forthcoming, Remsburg said that the squad's ability to shake off losses quickly and be up for the next game would be beneficial.

"This team has really surprised me this year," Remsburg said. "Our record isn't the greatest in the work but they come ready to play every game and I give them credit for that.

"We could have shut down in this game and others but they fight on regardless of what the situation is. We played with Ritter and finally ran out of gas but this team never gives up and that's what I like about them."


At Greencastle

Greencastle 012 300 0 -- 6 8 1

Owen Valley 042 210 X -- 9 10 1

WP -- Ca. Roberts

LP -- Mangrum

2B -- Nicholson (G); Ca. Roberts, Heckman (OV)

Next Game: Greencastle (3-11, 2-4 WCC) travels to Southmont Saturday at 10:00 AM.

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