Published: June 25, 2007 11:13 pm            

ELITE EIGHT: Roundup of action

UCT sending three teams to next round

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In a rematch of teams from the championship game of the 2002 tournament, Mike’s Pizza of Russiaville knocked off Kokomo Glass of Southside 5-0 Monday night at Taylor Southeast in the Sweet 16 round of the David A. Kasey Memorial Tournament.

Cameron Herr and Caleb Mullins shared pitching duties and delivered a strong shutout performance for the Russiaville champions. Herr worked three innings, fanning three and allowing three hits without a walk. Mullins came on for the final three frames, fanning six, walking three and yielding two hits.

Mike’s Pizza (23-4) took control early, scoring four runs in the first inning.

Gabe Harp ignited the rally with a first inning walk, before Tait Sanders singled. Herr and Mullins then each delivered RBI doubles before Herr scored on a wild pitch. Jake Sheets’ sacrifice bunt tacked on the fourth run. The winners added an unearned run in the fifth.

Chase Hatfield and Loren Gonzalez each had two singles for Kokomo Glass.

Mike’s Pizza will be joined by fellow Russiaville team Stout and Son in the Elite Eight round. UCT leads all leagues with three teams in the final eight.

The following are looks at Monday’s other games.

Rocchio’s (SS) 3, Water Works (ES) 2

In a razor-tight game at UCT, Rocchio’s pushed across the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth to edge Water Works.

In the bottom of the fifth, Griffin Miller drew a walk and then stole second base to move into scoring position. Tayler Persons followed with a single to score Miller and break a 2-2 tie.

Persons pitched into the sixth inning. After Water Works put a runner on in the sixth, Mavric Collier replaced Persons and retired the next three batters to the seal the win.

Persons led Rocchio’s attack with three singles. Marshall Walker contributed a two-run single in the bottom of the third that tied the game at 2-all.

Dominique Holland and Dylan Stout each had an RBI single for Water Works. Tiran Eubanks led the Eastside squad with a double and a single.

Eriks Chevrolet (UCT) 2,

Mid-Central Trophy (TSE) 0

Josh Mentis and Jake McMain combined on a four-hitter to lead Eriks past MCT in a classic pitchers’ duel at Northwestern.

Jared Goins smacked an RBI single in the fourth inning to put Eriks in the lead. The UCT squad added an insurance run in the fifth.

Mentis pitched four innings to earn the win. He allowed two hits and two walks and had six strikeouts. McMain followed with two innings of relief. He allowed two hits and one walk and struck out three.

McMain smacked a triple and Parker Sanburn had a double to lead Eriks at the plate.

Logan Barnes suffered the tough-luck loss. The MCT pitcher went the distance and allowed four hits and two walks. He struck out nine.

Corbin Collins had two singles for MCT.

Coca-Cola (UCT) 5, Spangler Seed (G) 3

The Cokes scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase a 3-0 deficit and they went on to claim the hard-fought win at Southside.

Zach Girrens ripped a bases-loaded triple to knot the score in the decisive fifth inning. Nick Braden cracked a single to score Girrens with the go-ahead run and Gabby Castillo brought Braden home with an RBI single of her own.

Braden and Drew Guge each finished with two singles to lead the winners.

Andrew Schten pitched three innings of solid relief to earn the win. Girrens pitched the first three innings. They combined on a three-hitter. Schten struck out eight and Girrens fanned five.

Coke (TSE) 5, Century Villa (G) 3

Undefeated Coke scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Century Villa refused to back down and rallied to within 4-3 in the fourth inning, but the Taylor Southeast champions slammed the door to come away with the win at Robert M. Waddell Memorial Park in Russiaville.

Coke pitchers Jay Mitchell, Dakota Harris and Drew Hansen combined on a three-hitters. Mitchell had seven strikeouts and Harris and Hansen combined for seven more.

Trevor Marler smacked a double and a single to lead Coke (25-0). Hansen and Mitchell each chipped in a single.

Logan Conwell smacked a triple for Century Villa. Losing pitcher Conner Young and Grant Cole each had a single.

Stout and Son (R) 16, Norris-Neher (SS) 4, 5 innings

Mike Kinsey cracked two home runs and a single and drove in six runs to lead an impressive Stout and Son showing at Greentown.

Also for the Russiaville squad, Drew Bellus had two doubles and two singles, Nate Horner smacked a double and three singles and Mike Cook and Brody Obermeyer each had two singles. Samson David picked up the win.

Joe Farkas cracked a homer and a single to lead Norris-Neher.

Bryan Gaskins covers the tournament for the Tribune. He may be reached at bryan.gaskins@kokomotribune.com or through the sports department.

        

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