The coaches, Jon Hendricks, and even some dads arose early Saturday morning and headed to Sundberg Field. What they found was a very wet and unplayable surface at 7:00 a.m. For all their hard work the Streaks took the field at 1:00 and swept U.T. by scores of 10-0 and 3-2.
In the first game, Tyler Farrell took the mound. Tyler shook off a little early rust and proceeded to pitch a shutout that included 13 strikeouts. The U.T. pitcher did his job too as the Streaks struggled to push anything across. That all change however in the fifth when the Streaks exploded with three home runs in the inning. (McCrery, Milligan, and Bush). McCrery would add another one in the sixth and Logan Scott ended the game with a fielders choice.
We were not as sharp defensively as I would like to have been. And, I would still like to see us come out and jump on teams early offensively. But, all in all, a mercy rule victory in the conference is a great thing.
In game two, Nick Milligan took to the rubber. In his first start of the year, Milli struck out 11 and pitched a complete game giving up just two runs and walking only one. I cannot tell you how impressed we all were with his outing. What I love, is we tried to take him out after the fifth (pitch count) and he told us he could continue. We really tried to take him out after the sixth, and he was adamant about finishing. Gutsy kid. And, he was rewarded with a conference victory.
I don't know if we were a little too content after the first game but we struggled to plate runs in game two. With the score knotted at two, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Chad Johnson ended the game with a home run to right-center field. A great end to a great day.
The Streaks play a (JV) game Monday at Sundberg before travelling to Monmouth College to play Alleman on Tuesday. It was great to see a good crowd on hand and as the Streaks continue to pile up the wins (11-2...8 in a row), I hope to see the crowds continue to grow. As coach Gonzalez put it: "Right now, we are the best show in town."
I agree.
