Meridians Baseball

Meridians return to Indy, learning their lessons from the year prior and over-recruited coming in - and particularly on the offensive side of the ball.   The usual, expected cancellations come in and we still find a very robust squad ready to go Saturday morning.  

We come out guns a-blazin' with Gater on the bullpen turf mound that was pulled out onto the field at Bishop Chatard.   We start our scoring in the 2nd with Parkhurst's runner coming across, but then see the Indy Disciples touch the plate 5 times in the 4th.   We answer right away in the bottom with 4 of our own to knot it up.   Not indicated in our book, but I'm guessing Duncan had the RBI in the 2nd and at least one in the 4th with Kroell and Tilley the other likely culprits.

Shaw (3-4, 2B as well) screams one out past the tall, left field fence to lead off the 5th and then they tie it back up in the 6th.   They push two more across in the 7th and we answer with 1 in the bottom, but the rally stops there and we drop our opener, 7-8.

Parkhurst: 2-2, 2R, BB and Duncan: 2-3, 2? RBI with Tilley continuing his similar stat line from '14 that earned him the lead-off spot this year: 1-1, 2 BB's

The nightcap finally allows Reese back on the bump after we miss getting him up there for the tourney in '14.   In the meantime, we loan out out Herby and Doc Biscotti to the Disciples for their Game 2 where they help wear down our next opponent.  After that barnburner though, Reese shuts down the Ft. Wayne Harley/Brandt offense with a 7-inning gem allowing just one run to scratch across in the final frame.   He notches 4, 1-2-3 innings including the first 3 innings!   

We score right away and keep it consistent, pushing men across in 5 separate innings.   Tilley: 2-3, 2R, BB - Uncle Bobby Herbert: 2-4, 2B, R - Matt Hitt: 2-3, R - Gater:  1-1, 2R, 2BB - Kroell: 2-3, RBI, R and Duncan: 2-3, R for a 9-1 final score.

Sunday brings just one game as we claim the #4 seed and a 10am start at Badger Fields.  We're pleased to find a real mound this time, but with the early start and travel - we get Hitt up to cover the top of the 1st on the hill while we get Sanders warmed up.   Ben Magsig, Shaw and Hitt get us 2 Runs right away and Sandman promptly retires their side in order.  We stay pretty quiet in the 2nd, but explode for 9 runs in the 3rd highlighted by a bases-clearing knock by Parkhurst and 2 RBI from Shaw.   Sandy does most of the rest of the work as we avenge our 2014 loss to the Des Moines Bruins with a 10-run rule in the 7th this go-around (12-2 final).

Magsig: 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2R - Shaw: 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI, 2R, BB - Hitt: 3-4, R, RBI - Parkhurst: 2-4, 3 RBI

On to the Semi-finals and the multiple-time defending champs, the Ft. Wayne Jackers.   We saved Kroell for a reason and this was most assuredly it as he guts through 10+ innings in this slugfest against the #1 seed.   We keep the offensive party going as Magsig and Shaw each score in the top of the 1st on Hitt's 3-run HR to left.   They jump right back with 1 in the bottom half and 4 in the 2nd while we wait until the 5th to score again.

Lahmers makes his tourney debut knowing that he was "on call" and is the first of 5 to score in the 5th followed by Tilley, Shaw (RBI), Hitt and Reese who chases 2 home while Gater walks home a run and Soto gets an HBP by the Jackers ace on his first pitch in relief for another RBI.   8-6 advantage for us then until the 8th when they plate 4, but our big 3 answer the call yet again as Hitt misses another 3-run shot by a few feet in center to score Mags and Shaw in the top of the 9th.   Their lead-off guy gets his 4th hit of the day in the 10th though and all havoc breaks loose when he's on board.  A routine ball in between the outfielders with him in motion and we're walked off, 10-11.

Word came through that the Chicago Grays then doubled-up the Jackers in the championship, 20-9.

Meridians Tournament Co-MVPs:  

Rob Shaw who went 10-15 with 3 2Bs, HR, 6R and 7 RBI & Matt Hitt with a 7-13, HR, 5R and 5 RBI performance. 

Thanks to the members of the Indy Irish (Herbert), Indy Giants (Hitt), some league in Lansing that I couldn't find (Mags), Cincinnati Sting (Tilley, Sanders, Chapman) and former Meridians, Biscotti & Duncan, for joining us this weekend.