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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Bats go silent as Dutch fall to Trojans

Three hits not enough as East Jackson pulls Cascades upset

By EdPatino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: May 3, 2007

With a showdown against the league leader on the horizon, the Manchester varsity baseball team saw its offense go silent.

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The Flying Dutchmen were held to three hits in a 7-1 loss to the East Jackson Trojans in Monday's Cascades Conference game.

Manchester (4-4, 3-2 Cascades) was still in striking distance entering the final inning, only trailing by two. However, the Trojans plated four runs in the top of the seventh to pull away.

Last season, the Dutchmen shared the Cascades Conference championship with Michigan Center, which they played April 25 to conclude the first half of league play. Michigan Center currently sits atop the league standings.

Trailing 3-0, Manchester got back in the game when it plated a run off an error in the bottom of the fourth inning. While the Dutchmen's pitching and defense held them in the game, the offense was unable to mount a rally over the next two innings, setting up East Jackson's big seventh inning.

For the game, the Dutchmen struck out looking five times.

"We weren't aggressive at the plate," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "We were very timid for some reason."

Ryan Galaska had two hits, including a double to lead the Dutchmen. Lucas Sweet added the other hit.

Alex Kastanis was charged with the pitching loss, allowing 10 hits and striking out four while going the distance.

"We should match up well against anyone," Fether said. "We need to get back our aggressiveness at the plate."

Wednesday's game against Michigan Center took place after the newspaper's deadline. The Dutchmen will face Grass Lake in a single game Friday. Manchester posted a 9-7 victory over the Warriors in the team's first meeting April 18.

Dutchmen vs.Hanover-Horton

The bats came to life at the right time for the Flying Dutch in a 13-3 victory over the Hanover-Horton Comets in Friday's Cascades Conference game.

After watching an early lead disappear, Manchester erupted for 10 runs over the fifth and sixth inning to take the victory.

The Dutchmen started fast, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hanover-Horton answered with a run in the fourth inning, and made it 3-3 with two more runs in the top of the fifth.

Manchester quickly turned the momentum back in its favor with a six-run avalanche in the bottom of the frame. The Dutchmen put the game away with four more runs an inning later.

The game was stopped in the sixth inning as a result of the mercy rule.

Will Rickert led the way for the Dutchmen at the plate and on the mound. Rickert held the Comets to three runs on six hits and struck out eight while going the distance. Offensively, Rickert went 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored.

"Will pitched a whale of a game and was great at the plate," Fether said.

Steven Mulcare was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Brandon Hone went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Sweet finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored for the Dutchmen.

For the game, Manchester cranked out 12 hits and didn't commit an error.

"Having kids one through nine that can hit makes us dangerous," Fether said.

Dutchmen vs. Napoleon

A run in the top of the seventh inning lifted the visiting Napoleon Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the Flying Dutchmen in a Cascades Conference game April 23.

Trailing by two, the Pirates rallied to grab a 4-3 lead after scoring three runs in the top of the sixth. Manchester drew even in the bottom of the frame and had closing pitcher Ryan Galaska on the mound for the seventh. But Napoleon was able to plate the go-ahead run and keep the Dutchmen scoreless in the bottom half of the inning.

"We thought we had them where we wanted with Galaska pitching," Fether said. "Napoleon is a good hitting team that put pressure on our defense, and we couldn't hang on."

Errors slowed both teams. For the game, the Dutchmen committed five errors, while Napoleon was charged for four.

Mulcare went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs to lead Manchester. Hone was 2-fof-4 with a run scored, while Kastanis finished 1-for-4 with a RBI and run for the Dutchmen.

Galaska was charged with the pitching loss in relief. The senior allowed the one run on one hit and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings. Kastanis started the game, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and striking out two in 5 1/3 innings.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.