ELITE EIGHT: Youth baseball game of day

By BRYAN GASKINS
Tribune sportswriter

June 26, 2007 03:58 pm

— Undefeated Cossell’s Landscaping survived one of its closest calls of the season Sunday in the second round of the David A. Kasey Memorial Tournament.
The Northwestern Youth Baseball League champions returned to their dominating ways Monday in the Sweet 16 round.
Cossell’s pulled away from a good Martin Brothers TV and Appliances team from Russiaville for an 11-3 win at Northside.
“Up and down the lineup, they put the ball in play and hit the ball hard,” Martin Brothers manager R-Jay Smith said. “That is the name of the game in [youth] baseball. If you put the ball in play, you’ll be successful. If not, you’ll struggle to score runs like we did in this game.
“They have some good pitchers and they’re solid defensively too. I think they can go far in the tournament,”
Cossell’s (25-0) advances to play another Russiaville squad, Mike’s Pizza, at 6 p.m. today at Eastside in the Elite Eight round of the 51st annual Kokomo Tribune-sponsored tournament.
Cossell’s beat Pizza Hut 5-4 in nine innings Sunday. The Northwestern squad managed just two hits in that contest, but still found a way to win. Cossell’s followed with a 13-hit explosion against Martin Brothers.
“We had batting practice and talked to the boys about going out there and swinging the bat. They went out there and did the job,” Cossell’s manager Phil Richmond said.
Isaiah Phipps, Trevor Richmond and Milligan, the Nos. 2-4 hitters in Cossell’s lineup, went a combined 9-for-10, drove in eight runs and scored seven runs to lead the charge. No. 8 hitter Quinlan Armstrong also had a solid game as he went 1-for-2 and scored two runs.
“Our top five hitters are strong and our bottom guys are really coming through and getting on base for us. We’re proud of them,” Phil Richmond said.
Martin Brothers (21-6) struck first as leadoff hitter Mitchell Shahan opened the game with an inside-the-park homer to right field.
Cossell’s answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Phipps started the rally with a bad-hop single, Trevor Richmond cracked an RBI single and Milligan brought Richmond home with a double. Milligan later scored on a wild pitch.
Martin Brothers battled back for a 3-all tie in the top of the third, but Cossell’s regained the lead in the bottom of the third and never looked back.
Cossell’s scored two runs in the bottom of the third and then broke the game open in the fourth. Armstrong drew a lead-off walk in the fourth and No. 9 hitter Ricky Christiansen reached on a hard-hop single to set the table for the top of the order. Craten Brown ripped a double to score Armstrong and Phipps followed with a two-run single. Also in the inning, Milligan had a run-scoring single and Richmond scored on a wild pitch for a 10-3 lead.
Cossell’s capped the scoring in the fifth. Armstrong led off with a single and two outs later, Phipps cracked a hard single that scored him from second.
Phipps finished 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs and Milligan went 3-for-3 with four RBI. Richmond went 2-for-3, drew an intentional walk and scored three runs.
Richmond, Milligan and Brown each pitched two innings. They combined for 10 strikeouts.
Shahan finished 3-for-3 with two extra-base hits, two RBI and two runs to lead Martin Brothers. Ronnie Smith went 2-for-3 and Brandon Penning had a double.
“We’re proud of these kids,” R-Jay Smith said. “I couldn’t ask for a better group. They fought hard all season long. Twenty-one wins is nothing to shake a stick at, especially with the league we play in. Russiaville has always been a strong league up and down.
“I am especially proud of our 12-year-olds, Ronnie Smith, Nathan Kirk, Mitchell Shahan and Brandon Penning. They really stepped up and played well all season.”
Shahan and Ronnie Smith played on the Martin Brothers team that won the 2004 Kasey Tournament.

Tonight’s Elite 8 schedule
6 o’clock games
At Russiaville — Scoops (UCT) vs. Rocchio’s (SS)
At Eastside — Cossell’s (NW) vs. Mike’s Pizza (R)
8 o’clock games
At Southside — Coke (TSE) vs. Stout and Son (R)
At Taylor SE — Eriks Chevrolet (UCT) vs. Coca-Cola (UCT)
Info for managers
Managers of winning teams are reminded to report their scores to the Tribune sports department as soon as possible after tonight’s games. Those playing in the early games may either call (454-8574) or submit a form to the Tribune’s drop box. Those in the late games are asked to call their results in, no later than 10:30 p.m.

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