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Verdigris waited patiently before delivering the knockout punch Monday night.
Locked in a tight game through four innings, the Cardinals exploded for 5 runs in the fifth to pull away for a 7-1 District 4A-7 home victory over Stilwell, improving to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in district play.
Shortstop Ian Lane led the charge offensively, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored. Conner Stump and Mac West also collected 2 hits apiece as Verdigris finished with 11 hits and 7 stolen bases.
On the mound, left-hander Boston Acosta was dominant from start to finish, allowing just 2 hits and an unearned run across 7 innings while striking out 9.
The Cardinals’ defense also made several key plays behind him, including routine handling of multiple fielder’s choice situations and a steady final frame in which Lane recorded all three outs at shortstop.
The Indians [3-3, 3-2] threatened first in the fourth inning, though.
After Cole Wilhite singled and Jett Kimble followed with a base hit to center, they put pressure on the Verdigris defense. A pair of fielder’s choice grounders moved runners into scoring position before Mikey Sawney reached on an error at third that allowed Kimble to score for a 1-0 Stilwell lead.
Verdigris responded immediately in the bottom half.
Stump worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a steal before Korbin Ballinger dropped down a bunt single that plated him to tie the game.
Ballinger then stole second and scored moments later when Lane ripped a double down the left-field line to give the Cardinals a 2-1 advantage. Lane was later picked off at second to end the inning, but Verdigris had seized momentum.
After Acosta retired the Indians in order in the fifth, the Cardinals turned the game decisively.
West opened the inning with a ringing double to right and moved to third on Acosta’s sacrifice. Heath Hutichison followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.
Lincoln Butler then lined a double to right that scored Hutichison, and Stump delivered another run-scoring double to center to extend the lead to 5-1.
Verdigris wasn’t finished.
Hunter Attaway worked a walk, and after a groundout advanced the runners, Lane came through again with a sharp single to center.
Both Attaway and Stump scored on the play — with Lane advancing to second on the throw — capping the 5-run outburst and pushing the lead to 7-1.
Acosta continued to cruise from there.
He struck out Wilhite to begin the sixth and retired the side, then worked a clean seventh as Lane handled three-straight ground balls at shortstop to end the game.
Verdigris had earlier threatened in the first and third innings as well.
Ethan Hushbeck singled and West walked in the first before both stole into scoring position, but Hutichison lined out to center to strand them.
In the third, Lane walked and West singled to set up another opportunity, but Stilwell escaped when Lane was thrown out trying to advance.
The Indians' only sustained rally came in the fourth, when Wilhite and Kimble produced their 2 hits.
The Cardinals will look to complete the district sweep when they travel to Stilwell for the rematch at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Continue reading...
Locked in a tight game through four innings, the Cardinals exploded for 5 runs in the fifth to pull away for a 7-1 District 4A-7 home victory over Stilwell, improving to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in district play.
Shortstop Ian Lane led the charge offensively, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored. Conner Stump and Mac West also collected 2 hits apiece as Verdigris finished with 11 hits and 7 stolen bases.
On the mound, left-hander Boston Acosta was dominant from start to finish, allowing just 2 hits and an unearned run across 7 innings while striking out 9.
The Cardinals’ defense also made several key plays behind him, including routine handling of multiple fielder’s choice situations and a steady final frame in which Lane recorded all three outs at shortstop.
The Indians [3-3, 3-2] threatened first in the fourth inning, though.
After Cole Wilhite singled and Jett Kimble followed with a base hit to center, they put pressure on the Verdigris defense. A pair of fielder’s choice grounders moved runners into scoring position before Mikey Sawney reached on an error at third that allowed Kimble to score for a 1-0 Stilwell lead.
Verdigris responded immediately in the bottom half.
Stump worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a steal before Korbin Ballinger dropped down a bunt single that plated him to tie the game.
Ballinger then stole second and scored moments later when Lane ripped a double down the left-field line to give the Cardinals a 2-1 advantage. Lane was later picked off at second to end the inning, but Verdigris had seized momentum.
After Acosta retired the Indians in order in the fifth, the Cardinals turned the game decisively.
West opened the inning with a ringing double to right and moved to third on Acosta’s sacrifice. Heath Hutichison followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.
Lincoln Butler then lined a double to right that scored Hutichison, and Stump delivered another run-scoring double to center to extend the lead to 5-1.
Verdigris wasn’t finished.
Hunter Attaway worked a walk, and after a groundout advanced the runners, Lane came through again with a sharp single to center.
Both Attaway and Stump scored on the play — with Lane advancing to second on the throw — capping the 5-run outburst and pushing the lead to 7-1.
Acosta continued to cruise from there.
He struck out Wilhite to begin the sixth and retired the side, then worked a clean seventh as Lane handled three-straight ground balls at shortstop to end the game.
Verdigris had earlier threatened in the first and third innings as well.
Ethan Hushbeck singled and West walked in the first before both stole into scoring position, but Hutichison lined out to center to strand them.
In the third, Lane walked and West singled to set up another opportunity, but Stilwell escaped when Lane was thrown out trying to advance.
The Indians' only sustained rally came in the fourth, when Wilhite and Kimble produced their 2 hits.
The Cardinals will look to complete the district sweep when they travel to Stilwell for the rematch at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Continue reading...
