The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Redskins squeak by Dutch in finals
Manchester collects more hits, but finishes 1-2 in Clinton Invite
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 24, 2007
The hitting stats didn't match up with the final score for the Manchester varsity baseball team in the final game of Saturday's Clinton Tournament.
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Despite holding a wide advantage in total hits, missed opportunities hurt the Flying Dutchmen in a 3-2 extra-innings loss to the host Clinton Redskins.
Manchester (9-14, 6-8 Cascades) opened the tournament with a 5-4 loss to Mt. Clemens Lanse Creuse before blasting the Hudson Tigers 10-2 in the second game.
In the finals, the Dutchmen forced extra innings when Kevin Fielder scored on Jared Huber's squeeze bunt in the top of the sixth. Manchester loaded the bases twice, but stranded the runners both times. The Redskins scored the winning run in the bottom of the tenth on a sacrifice bunt.
For the game, Manchester out hit the Redskins 10-3, but was hurt by six errors and an inability to drive in base runners.
"We gave the game away with the lost opportunities," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "We had many chances to score but left the bases loaded."
Brandon Hone opened the scoring in the top of the first when he scored on a Clinton error. The Redskins answered with runs in the second and third innings before Huber's bunt scored Fielder in the sixth.
Huber went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Hone was 2-for-5 to lead the Dutchmen.
Manchester used three pitchers in the game, with Ryan Galaska taking the loss in relief. The senior struck out seven and allowed one hit in four innings. Justin Welton started the game, allowing one run on two hits and striking out three in two innings, while Will Rickert allowed a hit and struck out six in three innings.
"Other than some lead-off walks, our pitchers all threw well and I couldn't ask for more," Fether said.
Ted Kokenakes struck out 10 and allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in nine innings, but Rylie Robinson picked up the win in relief for Clinton.
The Dutchmen came out swinging against Hudson with a six-run third inning. Leading 2-1, Manchester erupted as Alex Kastanis scored Hone with a single, then came home on Galaska's single. Galaska scored on an error, then Grant Jobkar's two-RBI double scored Welton and Lucas Sweet, making it 8-1.
"We hit the ball hard and had a nice offensive output for four innings," Fether said.
Hone led the attack, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Rickert went 3-for-4 with a run, while Galaska was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run. Sweet finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs and Jobkar was 1-for-3 with two-RBIs and a run scored for the Dutchmen.
Kastanis earned the win on the mound, scattering six hits and striking out four while going the distance.
Against Lanse Creuse, the Dutchmen erased a 3-1 deficit and grabbed a one-run lead in the fourth inning. Steve Mulcare tied the game when he scored on an error, then Hone's RBI single scored Rickert, giving Manchester a 4-3 lead in the fourth.
"Hone is driving the ball down the right field line lately, and he was successful with that this weekend," Fether said.
The lead held up until the bottom of the sixth inning when Lanse Creuse plated two runs, then retired the Dutchmen in the top of the seventh for the victory.
"It's been our season in which it could've gone either way, but didn't go for us," Fether said. "It is nice, though, to have these tight games to get ready for districts."
Hone was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, while Galaska went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Dutchmen. Rickert finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Sweet was charged with the pitching loss, allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out four in six innings.
Manchester's game against Lenawee Christian Monday took place after the newspaper's deadline. The Dutchmen will compete in the Division 3 district tournament June 2 at Clinton.
Dutchmen vs. Ann Arbor Greenhills
After dropping six of their last seven games, the Flying Dutchmen took out their frustrations on Ann Arbor Greenhills, roaring to a 16-6 victory in Friday's non-conference game.
Manchester overcame six errors thanks to a fast start. The Dutchmen plated 12 runs in the first three innings and then added four more in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away. The game was stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule.
"We needed that one to gain confidence and show that we can do it," Fether said. "We still struggled defensively, but we started to hit well and we'll take the win."
Kastanis was 3-for-4 with six RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Dutchmen. Welton went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, while Galaska was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Rickert went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs. Huber was 2-for-4 with two runs. Mulcare finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs for Manchester.
Mulcare also recorded the pitching win, allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits and striking out four in five innings.
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