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Laying down the Lawler: New Knoxville starter fans 14 in sectional win over 'Skins ACME |
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Friday, 03 July 2009 |
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 New Knoxville starter Jake Lawler delivers a pitch during Thursday's ACME sectional game. By CHRIS VOLOSCHUK
Sports Editor
MINSTER—Heading into Thursday night's ACME sectional showdown with the New Knoxville Rangers, the Wapakoneta Redskins had a lopsided 9-0 win to their credit and the top seed in the six-team tourney.
When Thursday's game ended, it was clear Rangers starter Jake Lawler didn't get that memo.
In a pitching performance that can only be described as a gem, Lawler gave up two hits and struck out 14 in a 10-0 New Knoxville win.
"Jake Lawler had a great pitching performance," New Knoxville ACME coach Clark Froning said. "He can make a coach look pretty good."
Apparently, so could the offense.
The Rangers plated their first run in the top of the first with two outs on a Bill Ray single to center field off Wapak starter Josh Vorhees and never trailed again. Two more runs would cross in the third on a sacrifice fly from Lawler and another single to center from Ray. After three innings, New Knoxville held a 3-0 lead.
While Lawler continued to give Wapak fits, his offense went on to break the game wide open. In the sixth, Vorhees gave up infield singles to Cody Horstman and Marcus Reineke with one out, then served up a two-run single to Lawler. Not to be outdone, Ray hit his third straight RBI single of the day to make it 6-0 Rangers.
Ray's hit would signal the end for Vorhees, who pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.
Despite his results, Wapak ACME coach Willie Sammetinger was happy with the way Vorhees threw. He left the game without letting up a walk.
"Josh did what he needed to do and threw strikes," he said. "Josh did a great job. We just had to make plays behind him and we didn't do it. And we didn't make plays with the bats."
Cale Tabler took the mound in relief then gave up a two-run single to Addison Wolf, the first batter he faced. He would go on to record two straight outs and finish the half inning, but the damage had been done. With one inning to play, New Knoxville led 8-0.
"We gave up three runs early and it seems like we just deflated and we couldn't get it back," Sammetinger said.
In the top of the seventh Jake Holman led off with a double to left field and with two outs Tabler hit Reineke with a pitch. Lawler dug in next and hit a two-run double that gave the Rangers a 10-0 lead and the game's final score.
"I think it was a combination of a good pitching performance and good hitting when we had runners in scoring position," Froning said.
And despite driving in half his team's runs, Lawler overshadowed his work at the plate with a mix of pitches that led to five multi-strikeout innings, including three in which he struck out the side. He gave up two hits and two walks in his seven innings.
"[Lawler] threw a nice ballgame," Sammetinger said. "He probably mixed the ball for the whole game about as well as anybody we've seen all year, and we've seen some pretty good pitchers. He did a great job."
Offensively for Wapak, Jordan Ruppert hit a single in the second and Justin Krebs smacked a double in the sixth. As a team, the Redskins left five men on base.
With the win, New Knoxville guaranteed itself at least a runner-up finish in this week's tournament and won't play again until Saturday. The loss put Wapak into the losers' bracket, where they will face St. Marys tonight at 6 p.m.
Even with one loss, the Redskins are still very much alive in sectional play.
"We're in it. The kids will be fine," Sammetinger said. "[Losing] happens even to the best teams. We'll be back ready to play."
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Last Updated ( Monday, 06 July 2009 )
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