Perry Meridian at Whiteland
April 7, 2011
Perry Meridian 20 Whiteland 5
Whiteland, IN ? A close game changed in the top of the 5th when Perry Meridian broke the game open and cruised to the 15 run win. The run scoring got started early for both teams on homeruns in the first. Senior Kyle Rupe hit a solo homerun in the top of the first for Perry, but Whiteland would get an answer in the form of a two run shot from Senior Caleb Dickey.
After the opening inning homeruns both pitchers seemed to settle in for a while. Senior Ryan Perritt would get the start for Whiteland and was keep the Perry hitters off balance through a mixture of his 81-84 mph fastball and his sharp curve. Perry?s Junior pitcher John Hardwick did the same sitting about 81-83 mph and getting hitters out on their front foot with his slow looping curve. The game looked like it would be a pitching battle until the 5th when both teams would knock out the opposing starting pitcher.
The top of the fifth would be the start of three big offensive innings for Perry Meridian. Perry was able to get six runs on a mixture of walks and singles that would drive Perritt out of the game. Whiteland would answer though with three in the bottom of the inning on a homerun by Senior Jess Harris. That would cut the lead to 8-5 and knock out Hardwick, but it was as close as they would get. In the top of the 6th Perry would add another five runs capped by Junior catcher Daniel Jenkins? grand slam (2nd HR of the day). The 7th would be another big top half for Perry, which was also capped by a grand slam this time by Junior Griffin Ball. Perry Meridian would hit five homeruns on the day and starting pitch John Hardwick (4 1/3, 7 Ks, 5 ERs, 4 Hs) picked up the win. Sophomore Jordan Tackett threw the final 2 2/3 allowing no hits while striking out 3.
Perry Meridian - Jenkins: 2-3, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 3 Rs, BB, HBP; Ball: 3-4, HR, 7 RBIs, 2 Rs, BB; Senior Kyle Rupe: 1-2, HR, RBI, 3 Rs, 2 BBs, HBP; Junior Cody House: HR, 3 RBIs, 2 Rs; Junior Noah Ruark: 3 Hs, RBI, 2 Rs.
Whiteland ? Dickey: 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBIs, R, HBP; Perritt: 2-3, 2B, 2 R, BB; Harris: 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI; Senior Tyler Ison: 2B, RBI, R.