DeSmet crushes Parkway North behind Knowles, Bouman home runs
May 17, 2011
By Mike Rosenbaum
ST. LOUIS - In the first-round of Class 4, District 7 action on Monday, host DeSmet (15-9) crushed Parkway North (13-14), 18-1, in five innings. The Spartans offense was on fire from the game?s first pitch, scoring 11 runs in their first at-bat and adding to their lead over the remaining innings.
2B Killian Knowles immediately set the tone for the DeSmet offense, when he belted a solo-shot to center field to lead off the bottom of the first. SS Zak Larkin followed with a double and DH Brian Graf added a single ahead of LHP/OF Kyle Bouman, who contributed with an RBI single. After a strikeout, CF Brandon Gutzler, LF Nick Rumping, RF Eric Judd and 3B J.C. Madey each drew a walk, with the latter three each pushing across a run.
As the Spartans turned over the order, Larkin drew another bases loaded walk to increase the lead to 9-0. Graf then cleared the bases with his second hit of the inning, a double to the right-centerfield fence, and Bouman capped the impressive first inning by launching a no-doubt, two-run home run well over the left field wall.
The bottom of the second unfolded in a similar manner, as Gutzler singled and Rumping doubled to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Judd followed by driving in his second run of the game on a single and Mayde walked to load the bases once again.
Already with one home run under his belt, Knowles jumped the yard for the second time, launching a grand slam to dead-center to give the Spartans a 16-1 lead. Bouman added one more run in the inning with an RBI single, his third knock of the game.
The Vikings scored their only run of the game in the top of third, when a single by SS Michael Bozrath plated LF Andrew Childs.
The Spartans tacked on their final run in the bottom of the fourth thanks to another home run from Bouman, a solo shot to center.
Bouman picked up his third win of the season after yielding no runs on two hits over two innings on Monday. The Witchita State-bound left-hander fanned three and walked one.
Numerous players had a huge day at the plate for DeSmet: Knowles finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI; Bouman was 4-for-4 with two home runs, four runs scored and 5 RBI; and Graf was 3-for-4 a double, two runs scored and three RBI.
Larkin finished 1-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI, Rumping was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI, and Judd finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI. Mayde also scored two runs while Gutzler finished with a hit and two runs scored, as well.
Although things didn?t exactly go as planned for Vikings RHP Danney Heim, the Wabash-bound hurler showcased several solid pitches on Monday. Heim?s fastball sat 86-87 mph and touched 88 mph, with a 73-74 mph curveball and a high-70s cutter also in the mix.
For Parkway North, Bozrath, CF Jon Shanker, C Corey Huskey, and 2B Michael Kleffner each had a single.
DeSmet will play top-seeded No. 16 CBC on Tuesday at Missouri Baptist University.