SPORTS

June 8, 2010

2010 SR Raider baseball team finds extended season hopes a "no-go"

Gary Franklin
Sports Editor
The South Ripley Raider baseball team's stint in the 2010 IHSAA Class 2A Sectional #44 was a greatly reduced one as they fell in their opening game to the Milan Indians, 12-6.
One could summarize the events basically as what could go wrong did, and what could be positive went sour.
Opening on the mound for SR was Brandon Sizemore who has proven all season to be a tough cookie, but not on this day. Jerad Walters who normally fills the bill nicely for SR came on in relief and found his day quite ugly as well as he battled against the Indians.
However, Matt Brooks when called to the role as pitcher seemed to find the right touch and stopped the bleeding for the Raiders.
Too little too late for SR,a Milan went on to win the 12-6 at games end, eliminating the Raiders much sooner than they are accustomed to leaving the extended season action.
Raider season catch-up
The Raiders had played up and down most of the season with recent games, prior to sectional action, leaving them short in a game vs the Southwestern Hanover Rebels 3-6. A second loss was suffered at the hand of the Oldenburg Academy Twisters following three unearned runs scoring in the sixth inning off errors with Thomas on the mound.
South Ripley pushed the right buttons in their game vs Shawe, walking away with a 3-2 win after Matt Brooks pitched for five innings with Thomas earning the save with his two closing innings from the mound.
A Friday night game found SR losing to the Milan Indians for their second time of the season, 2-6. That loss along with Milan's earned win, a JCD loss to Rising Sun and the Raiders 4-2 win over the Rising Sun Shiners on Saturday along with the Indians win over the Shawe Hilltoppers provided Milan with the credentials for an ORVC championship title in 2010.
Raiders vs Shiners
The Raider 4-2 victory over RS sealed the 2010 ORVC season's fate, but more than that, it was senior day for South Ripley's team.
Coach Hughes stated that senior day was a memorable one, as Brandon Sizemore started at the pitchers mound and went 5 innings in a pitcher's dual against the RS frosh pitcher Miles Morris.
The Shiners scored a run to take the lead in the game in the top of the fourth inning after hitting three consecutive singles.
Senior Brian Thomas came on in relief in the sixth inning and gave an unearned run up in the top of the seventh off three Raider errors.
Through the bottom of the seventh inning, SR's battery had been held in check, earning just three hits, they being singles by Brian Thomas and Jason Dilk, and a double by Jerad Walters.
With two outs marked against them in the seventh, the Raiders began the attack with a walk drawn by Jordan Walters. Justin Clements followed suit, drawing a second walk to put Raiders on first and second base.
Raider senior Chase Grider delivered an RBI single, prompting a RS pitching change, ace hurler Trent Pickett to face freshman catcher Jason Dilk already holding a 2 strike count.
Dilk hit his first high school career home run to earn the 4-2 SR victory and made a most desireable finish to senior day at SR.