Two six-run innings power No. 14 Westminster past MICDS

May 10, 2011

By Mike Rosenbaum

The weather was surprisingly hot on

Monday, but not nearly as hot as the bats of No. 14 Westminster and MICDS. The two teams combined for 21 runs on 28 hits in the non-conference match up, with Westminster ultimately prevailing, 13-8, thanks to a six-run seventh inning. In a game that featured a slew of top-notch 2012, 2013 and 2014 players on both teams, it was Westminster outfielders Tate Matheny (right) and Conner Einertson that delivered with the game on the line.

MICDS (15-6) jumped out to a big lead in the bottom of the second when they sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored five runs. 3B Trey Baur led off the frame with a double to right-center and scored moments later on an RBI single by C Christopher Meier. After a double by RF Gary Russo put runners on second and third, 2B Jack Rouse singled to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. LF William Johnston added an RBI ground out ahead of 1B Collin Palmer, who followed with a two-out, RBI double to right-center. MICDS scored once more thanks to a pair of Westminster infield errors, capping a five-run second inning.

A team that?s not exactly accustomed to trailing early in the game, Westminster (18-3) found themselves in unfamiliar territory headed into the top of third inning. They responded to the MICDS offensive outburst with a six-spot of their own, as their hitters worked deep counts and delivered timely hits.

After DH Alec Mitchell reached second base on a throwing error, SS Connor Larson drove in the Wildcats? first run of the game with a single. A pair of walks to RF Collin Henry and CF Tate Matheny loaded the bases ahead of C Ryan Allee, who hammered a two-run double off the centerfield wall. LF Conner Einertson followed with an RBI single and 3B Luke Turner capped the big inning with a two-run knock.

That score held until the top of the fifth inning, when Mitchell gave Westminster a 7-5 lead with sacrifice fly to right field.

But just as Westminster had done in the second, the Rams offense battled back to re-gain the lead. After another infield error and singles by Russo and Rouse loaded the bases, pinch-hitter Alex Putnam smacked a clutch, two-run single to deep right field. Johnston plated MICDS?s final run of the inning with a ground out, as the Rams took the lead, 8-7.

The resilient Westminster offense refused to be silenced, however, as they exploded for six-runs on six hits and sent nine men to the plate in the top of the seventh. After singles by Mitchell and Larson, the Wildcats loaded the bases on a fielder?s choice ahead of their standout junior, Matheny. Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 4 Class of 2012 player, Matheny fouled off several two-strike pitches before clearing the bases with a triple, his ninth of the season.

?I expected he?d see something to hit, and with him, if he doesn?t hit the ball right at somebody, it?s going to be trouble,? said Westminster head coach Rich Van Gilst of his standout junior?s at-bat.

?I was just trying to relax and hit the ball up the middle,? said Matheny of his approach to the at-bat. ?He threw some good two-strike pitches that I had to foul off, but luckily I was able to put one in the gap and pick up my guys as they?d been picking me up all game.?

Allee plated Matheny with an RBI single to left-center and Einertson followed with a two-run, opposite field home run to put Westminster up for good, 13-8.

?This was a good game for us because we take a lot of early leads and kind of cozy in?it helped prepare us for the home-stretch of the season,? noted Van Gilst.

?We didn?t really play well enough over the first six innings to win, but they got it together in the last inning for a rally?so I give them credit for that,? he added.

?Our comeback today showed a lot of character and heart,? said Matheny of the come-from-behind win. ?We get fired up if we?re behind or after a tough inning?we?re not going to die down or give in at all.?

Einertson had a huge day at the plate for Westminster, as the junior finished the game 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run and 3 RBI. Larson finished the contest 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Turner was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Matheny, who was held hitless until his final at-bat, was 1-for-4 with the three-run triple and two runs scored, while the clean-up hitter, Allee, finished 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI.

Westminster RHP Dylan Andres picked up the win in relief after allowing two hits and fanning one over the game?s final three innings.

The Rams offense featured several players with multiple hits: Baur was 2-for-4 with a double, Russo was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, Rouse was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and SS Jackson Myer was 2-for-3 with a double. Putnam and Johnston both drove in a pair of runs while Palmer and Meier each collected RBI knocks.

Notes

Both teams? lineups featured a total of 10 2012-2014 starters. Westminster: Larson (2012), Matheny (2012), Einertson (2012), Turner (2012), and Jacob Buffa (2012); MICDS: Palmer (2012), Clayton Buddemeyer (2013), Baur (2014), Rouse (2014) and Myer (2012).

Westminster?s impressive six-run comeback in the seventh inning was captured on film by a parent of one of their players (who also provides some nice play-by-play coverage) and is already available on YouTube. The inning is divided into two separate segments: Part I includes Matheny?s at-bat (which begins at the 6:00 minute mark) while Part II features Allee?s RBI single (:30) and Einertson?s opposite field home run (2:25).

Einertson?s home run was his second of the season and the junior is now hitting .551.

After hitting his ninth triple of the season, Matheny has now amassed 85 total bases and is raking at a team-best .533 clip

RHP Jake Kinsinger pitched in a game for the first time this season, allowing two earned runs on five hits over two and a third innings.

6-foot-4 freshman Trey Baur now leads MICDS with five doubles