Meridians Baseball

Dave Pearson tosses a 2-hitter (7/5) versus the Louisville Stallions at the Battle of the Banks II tournament over the 4th of July weekend at Florence Freedom Stadium!   Soto catches both Saturday games for the Dayton Braves (another Jack Parkhurst team) and Pearson tosses a CG gem in their Game 2, but falls 2-0.   Little offense to speak of behind the effort with couple of hard at'em balls vs. Louisville's young arm who scatters 6 hits on the afternoon.

With their 3-4-5 hitters out - the Meridians' arms on the hill should have been the saviors, but the other bats in the lineup do their jobs as well.   Justin Kraus tosses a CG shutout, gets recruited and helps his own cause with the bat in Game 1.   Kevin McClung returns from his no-no the weekend prior and holds a good-hitting Hawks team close enough for two Meridians comebacks and a CG win as well.

Multi-hits days for every Meridian including Daron Williams (while playing a solid outfield) and Kraus who knocks in the evetual game-winner in Game 2 off the bench (in turf shoes, keeping the spikes off after his Game 1 performance).   Casey Hall makes a much-needed cameo appearance and doesn't even see the mound, but scores the tying and go-ahead runs in Game 2.   Big hits in Game 2 from Ryan Williams (including a booming double to left), Porpiglia, Derek Williams (who keeps up his hot hitting), Parkhurst, newcomer Andrew Yokley and Hall with McClung on base all day as usual.   Soto starts the scoring in Game 1 by getting McClung his running in by scoring him from 1st and then just keeps hitting all day long.

Web gems from McClung who catches up with a sure infield hit from the mound and flips back to Parkhurst.   Parkhurst returns the favor with a flip to McClung later after taking one off the chest.   Yokley in left with a diving snare and then pelts Hall in the infield looking for a 4th out.   The ever-popular double-play combination of Soto to Hall to Parkhurst turns one in Game 2 while the fence fails to pry a pop up from Soto.

(Finals:  8-0 vs. Red Sox and 7-6 vs. Cincinnati Hawks)

Winning streak ends with a laugher on Thursday night against the Chiefs.   3 out-of-town, 2 last minute call-offs and an injury give us just 9 on a night we usually have a football team in the dugout (and puts Soto at shortstop, which is never a good idea along with outfielders playing 3rd and 2nd).   Blain with a multi-hit night, Phil with a stand-up triple and Derek watches his double off the bottom of the fence like he has power.   Soto's offensive line skills put their 3rd baseman on his back, clean pass blocking in the score book as the Chiefs' catcher waits until he's on the 3rd base bag to throw the ball.

Chiefs' website tries to summarize the game above (not sure on how many innings we played), but they're unable to form too many coherent sentences and throughout their website use words such as jamb (probably good with peanutb butterb though), quitely (when it's supposed to be 'quietly'), Everst, nest (next), bakc, officail and the pride of Kentucky - Luoisville.   And what in the hell is a "bubble ride"?

Kevin McClung completely shuts down the opposition in Game 1 for the 2nd no-hitter in Meridians' history.   The only blemish keeping the perfect game at bay was a 1st inning error by one of our pitchers filling in at 2nd base (2nd batter of the game).   8 K's along with the 0 hits - "You buckled him!"

McClung cruised so easily in Game 1, he starts Game 2 as well to win both.   Daron Williams relieves in Game 2 for the hold.   Only 1 run allowed on the day as the Meridians score 25 times.   Derek Williams curses in the outfield, eats strawberry shortcake and then goes yard in Game 2.   Soto hits into a triple play (and yes, Blain was involved...).   Fread finds playing 3rd base to his liking in Game 2 and also drops a bomb (2 HBP and a BB as well).   Multi-hit days for Porpiglia (also 4 BBs), McClung (2 3Bs+), B. Williams (2B, 3B+), Pratt, Soto and De. Williams.   Ryan Williams hits at'em balls all day.

(Finals:  11-0 and 14-1 vs. Cincinnati Royals)

Down 3-7, we don't make an out in the home half of the 7th and end it with Pratt taking the walk-off walk to force in Derek Williams from 3rd.   The 7th starts with back-to-back walks to Parkhurst and Cutter.   Lewis forces an error with a bunt that scores Parkhurst from 2nd and newcomer Jared Porpiglia takes a walk as well.   Derek then comes up big with a solid, 2-run single.   Netherly forces yet another error and McClung takes his walk as well, which loaded them for Pratt who starts off 0-2, but fights off a few pitches and waits out the pitcher for his well-deserved free pass to end it.

Daron Williams earns the win in relief of the lefties Kraus and Pearson.   Kraus with 3 K's and 1 runner (almost 2) picked off.   Sloppy game with multiple errors on both sides, but we'll take the ugly win.   Lewis the only one with a multi-hit night as everyone contributed.   Soto with 2 runs, scoring once by himself by causing a balk.   Parkhurst, Lewis, Netherly with RBI's in addition to Derek's 2 and Pratt's BB to win it.   (Final:  8-7 vs. Yorkville)