Graves flirts with no-no in win over Ft. Zumwalt North

May 18, 2011

By Mike Rosenbaum

O?FALLON, Mo ? Although the extra offense was greatly appreciated by Francis Howell (27-3) ace RHP Brett Graves, he ultimately needed only one run to win on Tuesday. The University of Missouri-bound right-hander and Prep Baseball Report?s No. 6 Class of 2011 player, allowed one hit over six innings, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the Vikings? 7-0 win over Fort Zumwalt North (17-9).

Francis Howell jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a pair of leadoff walks to 3B Case Munson and 1B Kyle Nuetzel. With one out in the frame, LF Jared Hagley lined an RBI single to right center to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. After a sacrifice fly by SS Zac Perkins, LF Jacob Rhoades made it a 3-0 game with an RBI double to left.

The Vikings extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. 2B Brett Peel lead off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a fly out by CF Jake Ivory, and ultimately scored on a passed ball.

They scored again in the following inning when Rhoades plated Hagley, who had doubled to start the inning.

Howell would go on to score twice more in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach for Zumwalt North and secure their well-deserved spot in the Class 4, District 8 title game on Thursday.

After a one-out single by Perkins, Graves smacked an RBI double to increase the Vikings? lead to 6-0 and later scored on an infield error.

The double capped a big day for Graves, who, despite battling intermittent command issues, held the Panthers to one hit over six scoreless innings to improve to 8-1 this season.

With one out in the top of the sixth, DH/RHP Joseph Siegler lined a single to centerfield to break up the no-hit bid. He struck out nine, walked four and hit a batter.

Submarine LHP Matt Norton pitched a perfect seventh in the victory, fanning two in the process.

Normally, the top and heart of the order has been responsible for driving in the bulk of the Vikings? runs this season. On Tuesday, however, it was the bottom of the order that produced.

Hagley finished the game 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and RBI, Perkins was 1-for-1 with two sacrifices, a run and RBI, and Rhoades as 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

Graves and Peel both doubled in the game, and Munson also collected a hit.

LHP/OF Wade Rothermich was sharp in his four innings of relief for Ft. Zumwalt North. The senior allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out six and hitting a batter. He generated numerous swings and misses using a changeup with significant fade, as well as bending curveball.