BaCK

 

Quick-starting Reapers shut down Chargers

March 28, 2007
By Chris Pall SPECIAL TO THE BEACON-NEWS

PLANO - Victims of late inning comebacks in three of their first four games, the Reapers stood their ground at Plano High School Tuesday evening against Aurora Central Catholic.

Four first-inning hits led to a 3-1 advantage and the Reapers added a pair of runs in the second stanza before claiming a 6-2 non-conference triumph.

Junior Randy Niles shrugged off a sluggish start to last five innings and Kevin Day, a sophomore, closed the door on the Chargers with two scoreless innings

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Earning his first varsity victory, Niles surrendered five hits and two runs while whiffing four and walking one. He was touched for a run in the opening frame, but did not allow another score until the fifth. With a strikeout in each of the first four innings, Niles was on cruise control until the Chargers put him in a jam in the fifth.

Mark Brauweiler singled with one out and stole second base before Pat Wondrak doubled him home, trimming the Reapers lead to 6-2. And after leadoff man Mark Adams drew a base on balls, it appeared the Chargers were ready to chip away. Niles then fell behind Chad Roscoe 2-0 but managed to recover.

Roscoe popped out to second baseman Josh Wright for the second out, and Niles retired Matt McDowell on a ground ball to shortstop Brook Bott to preserve the lead. A promising rally for the Chargers (0-3) was foiled in four pitches.

"I struggled earlier in the year but worked on it this weekend," said Niles. "I was pretty much throwing fastballs and curve balls and it worked today."

"I was really happy with the way Randy pitched today," said Plano coach Jim Schmidt. "He struggled a little bit to start, but he pitched out of that first inning. He settled down in the second, third and fourth, but struggled a bit in the fifth.

"I said 'Let's end on a positive note and bring K Day in to finish it,'" Schmidt continued.

Adams opened the game with an infield single and stole second base two pitches later before stealing third with one out. Adams' speed and a fly ball by McDowell put the Chargers on the board, but Niles fanned Mike Adams to end the Chargers initial at bat.

Plano grabbed the lead quicker than the temperature dropped. Six of the Reapers first seven batters reached base, but Plano could only push three runs across the plate. Leadoff hitter Jared Ferguson reached on an infield hit and stole second before Day ripped a run scoring single to right field. Bott followed with a double into the right center gap, but was thrown out at third on relay from Brian O'Donnell to David Luna to Dan Bieritz.

Mike Adams got cleanup hitter Dan Peruski to ground out his brother Mark at shortstop, but a pair of two walks proved costly. A line drive single up the middle by Ben Heller plated Josh O'Hara and the Reapers gained a 3-1 edge. Wright led off the Reapers second frame with a walk and after a stolen base and a wild pitch he was ninety feet away from home.

Ferguson delivered a ground ball to second for a RBI and a 4-1 lead. Bott kept the inning alive with a two out single, and after he stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, he scored on a base hit by Peruski.

"We hit the ball really well in the first three innings, but when that cold front came in it kind of slowed us down," Schmidt explained. "Some pop ups didn't drop for us, but we didn't strikeout much. I always tell the kids to make them make the plays. And we put the ball in play."

Wondrak, a junior, relieved Adams (a sophomore) after two innings and allowed an unearned run while holding the Reapers hitless for three innings. Junior Nick Deleon tossed a scoreless sixth inning for the Chargers and assisted on a 1-6-3 double play.

With a young team, ACC coach Rich Swann knew it would be a slow start, but he also see strides already.

"(Monday) night up at Burlington (Central) we played a lot better than we did the first game," said Swann. "

We played a lot better tonight. We hit the ball better, but we had that one bad inning where we couldn't pick up the ball again. But I think we'll be OK."

The Chargers threatened in the sixth inning, but an unassisted double play by Bott thwarted ACC. Ranging to his left, Bott scooped a grounder, stepped on second for a force out and fired to first for the twin killing. Day recorded three more groundouts before Mark Adams (2 for 4, 3 stolen bases) drove a ground ball through the left side. Day ended the game with his only strikeout and handled a scorching line drive while at third base.

"Kevin has been a gem," Schmidt said. "He has the fundamentals in every aspect, between pitching, fielding and everything he does. He has the right demeanor and is one of the best kids I've ever coached. He's going to be a good one."

Baseball: Plano 6, Aurora Central 2

Tuesday, March 27, 2007    4:15PM

 

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Top of 1st - 07 ACC

Randy Niles pitching:

-- Mark Adams:

Ball, Ball, Ball, Strike Looking, Mark Adams singled .

-- Chad Roscoe:

Ball, Ball, Mark Adams stole second , Chad Roscoe grounded out to the pitcher .

-- Matt McDowell:

Ball, Mark Adams stole third , Ball, Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Foul, Foul, Ball, Matt McDowell flied out to left , Mark Adams scored .

-- Mike Adams:

Strike Looking, Foul, Mike Adams struck out swinging .

End of Inning (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors)

Bottom of 1st - 07 Plano

Mike Adams pitching:

-- Jared Ferguson:

Strike Looking, Ball, Foul, Jared Ferguson singled .

-- Kevin Day:

Ball, Jared Ferguson to second , Strike Looking, Ball, Kevin Day singled , Jared Ferguson scored .

-- Brook Bott:

Strike Looking, Brook Bott doubled , Kevin Day scored , Brook Bott tagged out going to third.

-- Dan Peruski:

Ball, Strike Looking, Strike Swinging, Ball, Dan Peruski grounded out to short .

-- Josh O'Hara:

Ball, Strike Looking, Ball, Ball, Josh O'Hara walked .

-- Brian Green:

Ball, Strike Looking, Josh O'Hara stole second , Ball, Ball, Brian Green walked .

-- Ben Heller:

Strike Looking, Ball, Ben Heller singled , Josh O'Hara scored , Brian Green to second.

-- Anthony Simmons:

Ball, Foul, Foul, Ball, Anthony Simmons lined out to first .

End of Inning (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)

 

Top of 2nd - 07 ACC

Randy Niles pitching:

-- Nick Czaja:

Ball, Nick Czaja lined out to third .

-- Brian O'Donnell:

Strike Looking, Ball, Strike Swinging, Ball, Brian O'Donnell struck out looking .

-- Dan Bieritz:

Ball, Ball, Strike Looking, Dan Bieritz singled .

-- Mark Brauweiler:

Strike Looking, Ball, Dan Bieritz to second on wild pitch , Strike Looking, Mark Brauweiler grounded out to the pitcher .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors)

Bottom of 2nd - 07 Plano

Mike Adams pitching:

-- Josh Wright:

Ball, Strike Swinging, Ball, Ball, Josh Wright walked .

-- Jared Ferguson:

Ball, Josh Wright stole second , Ball, Josh Wright to third on wild pitch , Jared Ferguson grounded out to second , Josh Wright scored .

-- Kevin Day:

Ball, Kevin Day flied out to center .

-- Brook Bott:

Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, Ball, Brook Bott singled .

-- Dan Peruski:

Ball, Strike Swinging, Ball, Ball, Brook Bott stole second , Brook Bott to third on wild pitch , Dan Peruski singled , Brook Bott scored .

-- Josh O'Hara:

Strike Looking, Dan Peruski stole second , Foul, Ball, Josh O'Hara struck out looking .

End of Inning (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)

 

Top of 3rd - 07 ACC

Randy Niles pitching:

-- David Luna:

Strike Looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, David Luna struck out looking .

-- Mark Adams:

Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, Strike Looking, Foul, Mark Adams grounded out to short .

-- Chad Roscoe:

Ball, Ball , Chad Roscoe flied out to center .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

Bottom of 3rd - 07 Plano

Pat Wondrak pitching:

-- Brian Green:

Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, Brian Green struck out looking .

-- Ben Heller:

Strike Looking, Ben Heller safe at first on third baseman Dan Bieritz's fielding error .

-- Anthony Simmons:

Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Anthony Simmons on base by fielder's choice , Ben Heller to second .

-- Josh Wright:

Ball, Ball, Ball, Strike Looking, Josh Wright walked , Ben Heller to third , Anthony Simmons to second .

-- Jared Ferguson:

Jared Ferguson on base by fielder's choice , Ben Heller scored , Anthony Simmons forced out at third , Josh Wright to second .

-- Kevin Day:

Kevin Day flied out to second .

End of Inning (1 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors)

 

Top of 4th - 07 ACC

Randy Niles pitching:

-- Matt McDowell:

Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Matt McDowell flied out to first .

-- Mike Adams:

Strike Looking, Ball, Strike Looking, Foul, Ball, Mike Adams grounded out to short .

-- Nick Czaja:

Ball, Strike Looking, Foul, Nick Czaja singled .

-- Brian O'Donnell:

Ball, Foul, Foul, Brian O'Donnell struck out swinging .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors)

Bottom of 4th - 07 Plano

Pat Wondrak pitching:

-- Brook Bott:

Ball, Brook Bott flied out to left .

-- Dan Peruski:

Dan Peruski grounded out to short .

-- Josh O'Hara:

Strike Looking, Josh O'Hara flied out to short .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

 

Top of 5th - 07 ACC

Randy Niles pitching:

-- Dan Bieritz:

Ball, Dan Bieritz flied out to right .

-- Mark Brauweiler:

Ball, Ball, Strike Looking, Mark Brauweiler singled .

-- Pat Wondrak:

Foul, Ball, Mark Brauweiler stole second , Strike Looking, Foul, Ball, Pat Wondrak doubled , Mark Brauweiler scored .

-- Mark Adams:

Ball, Ball, Ball, Strike Looking, Mark Adams walked .

-- Chad Roscoe:

Ball, Ball , Chad Roscoe out, infield fly to second .

-- Matt McDowell:

Ball, Ball, Matt McDowell grounded out to short .

End of Inning (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)

Bottom of 5th - 07 Plano

Pat Wondrak pitching:

-- Eli Vargas:

Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Eli Vargas struck out swinging .

-- Eric Nelson:

Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Ball, Ball, Ball, Foul, Eric Nelson flied out to short .

-- Anthony Simmons:

Anthony Simmons flied out to center .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

 

Top of 6th - 07 ACC

Kevin Day pitching:

-- Mike Adams:

Ball, Mike Adams singled .

-- Nick Czaja:

Strike Looking, Ball, Nick Czaja hit into double play to short , Mike Adams forced out at second .

-- Chris Bieritz:

Ball, Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Ball, Ball, Foul, Chris Bieritz walked .

-- Dan Bieritz:

Ball, Chris Bieritz to second on wild pitch , Dan Bieritz grounded out to first .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors)

Bottom of 6th - 07 Plano

Nick Deleon pitching:

-- Mitch Krause:

Foul, Foul, Mitch Krause hit by pitch .

-- Mookie Eaves:

Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Foul, Ball, Mookie Eaves hit into double play to second , Mitch Krause forced out at second .

-- Chris Martinez:

Ball, Ball, Strike Looking, Ball, Chris Martinez flied out to first .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

 

Top of 7th - 07 ACC

Kevin Day pitching:

-- Mark Brauweiler:

Ball, Mark Brauweiler grounded out to third .

-- Pat Wondrak:

Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Foul, Ball, Pat Wondrak grounded out to the pitcher .

-- Mark Adams:

Ball, Strike Looking, Mark Adams singled .

-- Chad Roscoe:

Ball, Mark Adams stole second , Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Chad Roscoe struck out swinging .

End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors)