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S. Range stays close to top in ITCL baseball
By RYAN BUCK
BEAVER TWP.
With a 10-5 victory over Inter-Tri County League rival Crestview on Monday, the South Range baseball team kept its hopes alive for a conference title.
The Raiders (14-7, 11-1) scored nine runs in the third inning and starting pitcher Cory Deal was effective on the mound and at the plate against the Rebels (11-5, 9-4).
South Range sits a half game behind Springfield.
“We’re in a position to control our destiny, which you always like to do if you can,” South Range coach Jim Hanek said. “We didn’t expect today to be easy; conference rival, they were coming in here, the energy level was high, but the big third inning we had offensively really opened things up for us.”
The Raiders’ offense got started early, with a little good fortune. Zach Thorpe’s sharp ground ball took a nasty hop over the head of Crestview second baseman Andrew Batchelor into right field, scoring Billy Goodall from second base.
Meanwhile, Deal settled in. The junior right-hander didn’t allow a hit through four innings and faced the minimum number of batters. The South Range defense was also flawless.
“We were just pounding the zone low. I focused on location and my catcher, Ryan Miller, did well behind the plate. The infielders and outfielders behind me were playing great ‘D,’” Deal said.
Deal helped his own cause in the decisive third inning. Batting third in the South Range order, he tripled on a line drive to the right-center field fence.
“Most people don’t like to swing first pitch; they like to get a feel for the pitcher. He threw a first-pitch curveball, I knew I could wait back on it and drive it to right field,” he said.
Deal then raced home, beating a late throw to the plate when Thorpe was caught in a rundown between second and third.
In all, 12 Raiders came to bat. They recorded five consecutive singles, stole two bases and scored nine runs, two from Deal.
“We had some mistakes today that we normally don’t make,” Crestview coach Matt Strank said. “We gave them some extra at-bats, some extra outs in the one inning. It’s frustrating for us not going and playing up to our potential.”
Things got interesting in the fifth when the Rebels’ designated hitter Brandon Jayne broke up Deal’s no-hit bid with a one-out double down the right field line. Crestview subsequently chased Deal with four straight singles and five runs.
“We did show some life there in a couple innings and started to battle back there,” said Strank.
Mason Miller thwarted the Rebel rally and closed out the game for the Raiders.