The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Kastanis' home run grounds Jayhawks
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2007
In the midst of a pitcher's duel, Alex Kastanis delivered the climactic blow for the Manchester varsity baseball team last Friday.
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The senior delivered a two-run home run in the fourth inning, giving the Flying Dutchmen the lead and a 5-4 victory over the Vandercook Lake Jayhawks in a Cascades Conference game.
Manchester (4-2, 2-0 Cascades) overcame an early two-run deficit by plating three runs in the top of the third inning. After the Jayhawks pulled even in the bottom of the frame, Kastanis provided his heroics in the fourth.
After Jared Huber led off the inning with a single, Kastanis belted his two-run shot over the left field fence, giving the Dutchmen a 5-3 lead.
Manchester's pitching and defense took over after that, helping to seal the win and give the Dutchmen a fast start in conference play.
Kastanis fell a triple short of the cycle.
"Alex has been crushing the ball lately," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "We've been doing a good job of putting the ball in play and pressuring other teams to make plays."
Kastanis was one of the few to solve Vandercook Lake's ace pitcher Josh Clark, who recorded 13 strikeouts. However, Will Rickert and Ryan Galaska combined for 11 strikeouts for the Dutchmen.
The Jayhawks had chances in the later innings to take back the game. Josh Williams tried to score from first base, but was caught in a rundown between third and home for the second out of the fifth inning and then Rickert delivered a strikeout to end the threat.
"We made a bad throw from the outfield, but gunning (Williams) down at the plate bailed us out," Fether said.
The Dutchmen stranded a runner on third in the top of the seventh inning as Clark recorded three straight strikeouts after a leadoff walk. Galaska closed out the win for Manchester in the bottom of the inning by punching out the side.
"When Ryan comes in, it's game over," Fether said. "We seem to get a mental edge when teams see Ryan warming up."
Vandercook Lake had the early advantage. After Manchester stranded two on base in the top of the first, Mike Schneider drilled a two-run shot over the center field fence, giving the Jayhawks a 2-0 lead.
"We stranded 10 runners on base," Fether said. "We should've been able to move a lot of those in. But give Vandercook credit for making plays."
Clark and Rickert took over in the second inning. Clark struck out the side for Vandercook in the top of the second, but Rickert answered by punching out the side in the bottom half of the frame.
The Dutchmen finally solved Clark in the top of the third. Rickert's RBI single scored Kastanis, then Rickert and Galaska came home when Justin Welton's fly ball was dropped for an error. Manchester was then up 3-2.
Nick Melchori pulled the Jayhawks even in the bottom of the third when he scored Dan Pardew with a fielder's choice.
Kastanis nearly had another home run to lead off the sixth inning, but flied out at the warning track. Clark struck out the next two Manchester batters.
"(Clark) is one of the better pitchers we've seen this year," Fether said. "He was throwing his curve for strikes, which made him very effective."
The Jayhawks pulled to within 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth when Melchori scored on Clark's flyout, but they couldn't solve Galaska in the seventh.
The Dutchmen finished with seven hits in the game. Kastanis led the way with three hits and a run scored. Rickert finished with a hit, RBI and run scored, while Galaska and Huber added a hit and a run.
Rickert earned the win on the mound, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out eight in six innings.
Clark went the distance for Vandercook and took the pitching loss despite his strong showing. Melchori had two hits, a RBI and two runs scored to lead the Jayhawks' offense.
Monday's game against Napoleon and Wednesday's game at Addison took place after press deadline. The Dutchmen are scheduled to play Hanover-Horton at home Friday.
Dutchmen vs. Grass Lake
An early lead evaporated, but the Flying Dutchmen recovered for a 9-7 victory over the Grass Lake Warriors in the Cascades Conference opener for both teams April 18.
Manchester started fast, plating three runs in the first inning and carrying a 5-1 lead after three. The Warriors fought back and grabbed a 6-5 lead after scoring two runs in the fourth and three in the top of the fifth, but the Dutchmen answered with two in the bottom of the inning.
With the game tied 7-7, Manchester took the lead for the rest of the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and then rode Ryan Galaska's pitching the rest of the way.
Galaska earned the pitching win in relief, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Alex Kastanis started the game and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four in 3 2/3 innings.
Justin Welton led Manchester's offense, going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored. Galaska went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Will Rickert was 1-for-2 with three runs. Brandon Hone finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Dutchmen.
Dutchmen at Onsted
The Onsted Wildcats scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 10-8 victory over the Flying Dutchmen in a non-conference game April 16.
The teams exchanged runs in the first inning, but three runs in the bottom of the third and another in the fourth gave Onsted a 6-4 lead.
Manchester stormed back with four runs in the top of the fifth to grab an 8-6 lead, but was unable to hold on.
Welton went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Flying Dutchmen. Mulcare was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Hone finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
Lucas Sweet took the pitching loss in relief, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out three in two innings. Welton started the game, allowing six runs (one earned) on five hits and striking out five in four innings.
Joe Roesch went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored to lead Onsted, while Ryan Sweet was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Austin Ream earned the pitching win in relief for the Wildcats.
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