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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Fifth inning rally lifts Dutchmen to split

Dutchmen avoid sweep as juniors spark victory over Panthers in nightcap

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007

Justin Welton and Ryan Sweet delivered in the clutch for the Manchester varsity baseball team.

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The juniors keyed a fifth inning surge that helped the Flying Dutchmen salvage a doubleheader split with a 6-3 victory over the Addison Panthers May 11. The opener saw Addison plate a seventh inning run for a 4-3 victory.

Manchester (7-7, 6-5 Cascades) was in danger of being swept as it trailed by two after four innings of the nightcap.

The Dutchmen sprung to life with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and then rode their defense and pitching the rest of the way.

"I'm happy that we were able to stay up and dig out a win," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "It could've been easy for us to (lie) down, since that first loss may have taken us out of the conference race."

After being held to two hits in the first four innings, Manchester began to find its offense in the fifth. Welton ignited the rally with a two-RBI double, scoring Alex Kastanis and Ryan Galaska to tie the game. Sweet came in to pinch hit later in the frame and scored Jared Huber and Kevin Fielder with a two-RBI single, giving the Dutchmen a 5-3 lead.

"Lucas was told to be ready for these types of situations and he came up big," Fether said.

Brandon Hone closed out the scoring with a single that brought home Will Rickert.

The Panthers were retired in order in the top of the sixth. Kastanis made a highlight-reel diving catch for the first out, and Welton ended the frame with a strikeout. Addison got a one-out single in the seventh inning, but two fly balls ended the threat.

"We're certainly capable of making plays," Fether said. "It's a matter of us being ready for the play and knowing what to do."

The Panthers carried the momentum from their opening game victory into the nightcap. Tom Schneider scored Kacy Reed with a bunt single in the first, then Reed's RBI single plated Darren Truitt in the second, making it 2-0.

Manchester answered in the bottom of the second when Huber scored Rickert's fielder's choice, but Addison grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fourth when Casey Millbourne drove in Reed with a single.

The Dutchmen settled down defensively after committing four errors in the first three innings.

"Addison has improved and they're not a team you want to face down the stretch," Fether said.

Hone finished with two hits and a RBI to lead the Dutchmen, while Huber added a hit and two runs. Fielder and Galaska each had a hit and a run, and Mulcare added a hit for Manchester.

Welton earned his first varsity pitching win, allowing eight hits and striking out two while going the distance.

Reed had three hits, a RBI and two runs scored to lead Addison, while Schneider added two hits and a RBI. Reed took the pitching loss, allowing three runs on five hits, walking five and hitting two batters in four complete innings. Jeff Meckley pitched the final two innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and walking three.

In the opener, the Dutchmen erased a two-run deficit with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, but Addison answered with a run in the fourth.

The game was one out away from extra innings, but Schneider's grounder to first base was mishandled, allowing Kris King to score from third and giving the Panthers the win.

"Sometimes we're mentally focused and other times we're not," Fether said. "When we're not, we're not a very good team."

Galaska and Fielder both went 1-for-3 with a RBI to lead Manchester. Welton and Kastanis each finished with a hit and a run.

Despite 15 strikeouts, Galaska was charged with the pitching loss. The senior allowed four runs (three earned) on three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Meckley was 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Panthers. Schneider went the distance on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out five for the victory.

The Dutchmen host Michigan Center Thursday.

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