Gents clean house
Jon Oakley
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Sports
The Centenary Gents shut down the Leathernecks baseball team this weekend, sweeping three games and overwhelming the 'Necks with dominate pitching and big innings offensively.
Centenary (23-5, 6-1 Summit League) didn't allow an earned run until game three and struck out 25 Leathernecks (7-17, 3-4 Summit) in the series. The Gents have been working teams over in just this way all season long, combining for a 4.52 team ERA.
"Every now and then you tip your cap," said Leathernecks head coach Stan Hyman. "This is as good a pitching staff as I have seen, as we have seen. There is a reason they are 23-5 and there is a reason they have struck out more batters than innings pitched."
Centenary received two standout performances on the mound from its starting pitchers. In Game 1 sophomore Justin Kraft struck out eight and threw a complete game, spreading out seven Leatherneck hits and two walks. The Gents offense backed up Kraft's strong outing and Centenary took the series opener 7-1.
Sophomore Game 2 starter Boone Whiting one-upped Kraft, matching his complete game but striking out nine on the way to a 5-2 Gents victory.
"We had our chances but the mark of a good pitching staff and good pitchers is bearing down when runners are in scoring position and they did it," Hyman said. "I'm not panicked. I'm not even frustrated. I am almost upbeat because we know what we are going to have to do if we saw them again in Tulsa in the postseason."
Game 3 kicked off with the Gents teeing off on Leathernecks senior pitcher Austin Brough. The lefty watched seven runs cross the plate before he exited the game in the first inning.
The 'Necks couldn't climb back from the early deficit and eventually lost the series finale 10-5.
"This is a series where going in we knew it wasn't the greatest match up for us," Hyman said. "Any time good pitching faces good hitting, good pitching will usually come through. In no way am I frustrated with our guys. I think a lot of teams are going to struggle with these guys and they have."
The 'Necks start a six game road trip on Tuesday, heading to in-state rival Bradley for one game, then traveling to play a four game series against conference opponent Southern Utah.
Hyman said that dropping all three games to Centenary makes this weekend's conference series even more important.
"What this means is we have to win games at Southern Utah, which isn't easy," Hyman said. "I said before this series that the next eight games were the tough games that I wanted to go four and four."
First pitch against Bradley is scheduled on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Centenary (23-5, 6-1 Summit League) didn't allow an earned run until game three and struck out 25 Leathernecks (7-17, 3-4 Summit) in the series. The Gents have been working teams over in just this way all season long, combining for a 4.52 team ERA.
"Every now and then you tip your cap," said Leathernecks head coach Stan Hyman. "This is as good a pitching staff as I have seen, as we have seen. There is a reason they are 23-5 and there is a reason they have struck out more batters than innings pitched."
Centenary received two standout performances on the mound from its starting pitchers. In Game 1 sophomore Justin Kraft struck out eight and threw a complete game, spreading out seven Leatherneck hits and two walks. The Gents offense backed up Kraft's strong outing and Centenary took the series opener 7-1.
Sophomore Game 2 starter Boone Whiting one-upped Kraft, matching his complete game but striking out nine on the way to a 5-2 Gents victory.
"We had our chances but the mark of a good pitching staff and good pitchers is bearing down when runners are in scoring position and they did it," Hyman said. "I'm not panicked. I'm not even frustrated. I am almost upbeat because we know what we are going to have to do if we saw them again in Tulsa in the postseason."
Game 3 kicked off with the Gents teeing off on Leathernecks senior pitcher Austin Brough. The lefty watched seven runs cross the plate before he exited the game in the first inning.
The 'Necks couldn't climb back from the early deficit and eventually lost the series finale 10-5.
"This is a series where going in we knew it wasn't the greatest match up for us," Hyman said. "Any time good pitching faces good hitting, good pitching will usually come through. In no way am I frustrated with our guys. I think a lot of teams are going to struggle with these guys and they have."
The 'Necks start a six game road trip on Tuesday, heading to in-state rival Bradley for one game, then traveling to play a four game series against conference opponent Southern Utah.
Hyman said that dropping all three games to Centenary makes this weekend's conference series even more important.
"What this means is we have to win games at Southern Utah, which isn't easy," Hyman said. "I said before this series that the next eight games were the tough games that I wanted to go four and four."
First pitch against Bradley is scheduled on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Be the first to comment on this story