Tigers dig out of hole against Kahoks
Patterozzi's pitching, Messer's slam key big conference victory
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| John Swistak Jr. photo Edwardsville coach Tim Funkhouser congratulates Ted Messer after his third-inning grand slam in Tuesday's victory. |
The Kahoks plated three runs in the first and two in the second as Edwardsville starter Michael Strope got just three outs as he allowed five runs on six hits and three walks.
But Strope's teammates picked him up as Patterozzi silenced the Kahok bats and Ted Messer belted a grand slam to right-center field in the third to get the Tigers back in it. Dane Opel's groundout drove in Andrew Sertich to tie the game.Todd Baumgartner, who walked three times, produced a run without a hit as he walked, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scampered home on a wild pitch in the fourth.
The game was called with one out in the top of the sixth due to lightning and the Tigers picked up a key 6-5 victory in conference play. Edwardsville improve to 16-4 overall and 7-3 in the conference while the Kahoks fell to 12-8 overall and 4-4
"We had chances we just didn't get the job done when we needed to," Collinsville coach Pete Trapp said. "We came out and scored a couple runs early on, but give Edwardsville credit, they didn't back down. They kept on battling, battling and battling and got the job done."
Collinsville starter Zach Penny looked strong the first time through the lineup as he struck out five and allowed two bloop hits in the first two innings. But the Tigers adjusted to him the second time around.
Elliot Frey and Baumgartner drew walks in the third that sandwiched a single by Blake Conreaux setting the stage for Messer's blast.
"I had this gut feeling I was going to get a fastball and I got one," Messer said. "I was able to get enough of the bat on it to get it out of the park. My first at-bat he had me out in front on a slider and then I was able to keep my hands back and lined out to the center fielder."
EHS coach Tim Funkhouser said the Tigers had a better approach after the first two innings.
"We knew going in that Penny had good stuff," Funkhouser said. "It was hard to see the ball the first few innings, it's more of a credit to his motion and we weren't patient enough. Then we were able to make the adjustment and that's how those guys got on base and Ted was able to wait longer and hit a fastball."
The complexion of the game changed completely in the third inning.
"Coach talked to us, it seemed like we were kind of down to me," Messer said. "But then we got a couple guys on base and got some key hits and life started coming back. We were able to put some runs back on the board."
While Messer provided the biggest blow, Patterozzi changed the momentum of the game as he entered the game with two runners on and two already plated in the second. Patterozzi induced three groundouts to get the Tigers out of the inning with just one more run scoring. Patterozzi pitch four and a third hitless innings. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out six.
"He looked awfully good today," Trapp said. "If he continues to throw like that, he's going to be tough for anyone to beat."
Funkhouser also liked what he saw from Patterozzi.
"He was real good," Funkhouser said. "He's a guy who probably had a little extra motivation because he didn't do as well against Collinsville the last time. He was able to throw some good fastballs and good off-speed pitches and he really commanded the zone. Collinsville has put up some runs against a lot of teams and to settle in there and keep the game like it was was very important."
While the Kahok pitchers weren't going to let Baumgartner beat them with his bat, he found another way. With two outs in the fourth, Kahok reliever Grant Boehne walked Baumgartner on a full count. When Baumgartner stole second Kahok catcher Brett Erlinger threw wildly into center field. Baumgartner scored what turned out to be the winning run on a wild pitch.
Ian Vandeford scored twice and drove in two runs for the Kahoks while Joey Grzywarz, Derek Mattea and Jeremy Merz also drove in runs.
E-mail:jcavato@yourjournal.com
