WS vs Robinson has got to be the game of the week in the northern region with James coming over to robinson. Its gonna be intense with a lot of motivation for the spartans. Just wondering what everybodys thoughts are on the game
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West Springfield defeats Robinson 6-2. WSHS Senior Connor Tag pitched 5 inings giving up 1 run on 5 hits and drives in 2 runs in the top of the 6th after Sophmore Blake Bird (Evoshield Canes 2014) hits a RBI double to tie the game. Senior Donie Heuptle (Canes 2012) has 2 out single to drive in a run and the Spartans plate 3 more runs on walks and an error. Senior Tyler Tobin pitches 2 innings giving 1 run to close the game. Robinson's pitcher, Senior Denis Mikush, had pitched 5 innings of shut out baseball before the 6th and kept the Spartan hitters stymied up to the point. Great win for the Spartans.
West Springfield won tonight 6-2, but it was a good pitching duel between Tagg (WS) and Mikush (R).
Going into the top of the 6th, Robinson was leading 1-0. To this point, the only hits for WS were two infield singles. Pitching his third game in six days, Mikush appears to tire out in the 6th. WS opened the 6th with a nine pitch walk. The WS hitter fouled off a number of 3-2 pitches, before drawing the walk. The next WS hitter gets another deep infield hit that the short stop fields behind 2nd base. The following WS batter tries to bunt, but a force is made at third to get the 1st out. The next batter rips a single to center, only the 2nd ball to reach the outfield to this point, the other being a fly out to right earlier in the game. The hit scores the runner from 2nd and the runners move up to 2nd & 3rd on the throw home. Next batter hits a slow roller up the 3rd base line and the runner from 3rd is thrown out home for the 2nd out. Robinson looks like they may get out of the inning with only one run scored, when the next WS batter hits another slow roller down 3rd base line. Mikush picks up the ball, but his throw is high to 1st and goes down the left field line. Two WS runs score on the throwing error. Next two WS batters walk and the starting Robinson pitcher is removed from the game. The remaining three WS runs score on a hard single to right and I believe two more walks by the Robinson reliever.
Tagg was pulled after 5 strong innings, with his curve ball looking good. At one point I counted a total of five Robinson hitters taking 3rd strike pitchers for strike outs. Robinson scored a late run in the bottom of the 7th to wrap up the scoring, with the WS reliever stricking out the last batter strnding a runner on third.
Another interesting play occurs at home plate in the bottom of the 1st inning. Robinson opened with a couple hits and a sac bunt to move the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. The runner on 2nd is than picked off, while the runner on 3rd breaks for home. The throw home is up the line and the WS catcher applies the tag, but drops the ball, when the runner collides with the catcher. However, the ump rules the runner out for not sliding into home, plus he is thrown out of the game. That was a tough call, with it being a bang bang play, but the rule is you need to slide into home. Unfortunately, Robinson loses their leadoff hitter, starting Center Fielder and one of their better hitters. His replacement in the batter order proceeds to strike out three times in row.
Robinson had to make some line-up changes, with their starting 1st baseman out with an ankle injury and then losing their Center Fielder in the 1st inning.
Robinson plays their 3rd game in four days tomorrow @ 4:00 PM against Woodson.
Going into the top of the 6th, Robinson was leading 1-0. To this point, the only hits for WS were two infield singles. Pitching his third game in six days, Mikush appears to tire out in the 6th. WS opened the 6th with a nine pitch walk. The WS hitter fouled off a number of 3-2 pitches, before drawing the walk. The next WS hitter gets another deep infield hit that the short stop fields behind 2nd base. The following WS batter tries to bunt, but a force is made at third to get the 1st out. The next batter rips a single to center, only the 2nd ball to reach the outfield to this point, the other being a fly out to right earlier in the game. The hit scores the runner from 2nd and the runners move up to 2nd & 3rd on the throw home. Next batter hits a slow roller up the 3rd base line and the runner from 3rd is thrown out home for the 2nd out. Robinson looks like they may get out of the inning with only one run scored, when the next WS batter hits another slow roller down 3rd base line. Mikush picks up the ball, but his throw is high to 1st and goes down the left field line. Two WS runs score on the throwing error. Next two WS batters walk and the starting Robinson pitcher is removed from the game. The remaining three WS runs score on a hard single to right and I believe two more walks by the Robinson reliever.
Tagg was pulled after 5 strong innings, with his curve ball looking good. At one point I counted a total of five Robinson hitters taking 3rd strike pitchers for strike outs. Robinson scored a late run in the bottom of the 7th to wrap up the scoring, with the WS reliever stricking out the last batter strnding a runner on third.
Another interesting play occurs at home plate in the bottom of the 1st inning. Robinson opened with a couple hits and a sac bunt to move the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. The runner on 2nd is than picked off, while the runner on 3rd breaks for home. The throw home is up the line and the WS catcher applies the tag, but drops the ball, when the runner collides with the catcher. However, the ump rules the runner out for not sliding into home, plus he is thrown out of the game. That was a tough call, with it being a bang bang play, but the rule is you need to slide into home. Unfortunately, Robinson loses their leadoff hitter, starting Center Fielder and one of their better hitters. His replacement in the batter order proceeds to strike out three times in row.
Robinson had to make some line-up changes, with their starting 1st baseman out with an ankle injury and then losing their Center Fielder in the 1st inning.
Robinson plays their 3rd game in four days tomorrow @ 4:00 PM against Woodson.
Mikush threw over 100 piches in the game and is probably why he tired in the sixth inning, but youhave to give credit to the WS hitters for working the counts to create that situation.
The play at home was the right call, the Robinson runner from 3rd lowered his shoulder into the catcher and that's why he was out and ejected from the game.
WS lost their starting 3rd baseman during warm-ups due to a broken finger and inserted a sophmore, Blake Bird, into the lineup. That change yielded a game tieing RBI double in the sixth.
It appears both teams encountered adversity, but WS overcame and got the win.
The play at home was the right call, the Robinson runner from 3rd lowered his shoulder into the catcher and that's why he was out and ejected from the game.
WS lost their starting 3rd baseman during warm-ups due to a broken finger and inserted a sophmore, Blake Bird, into the lineup. That change yielded a game tieing RBI double in the sixth.
It appears both teams encountered adversity, but WS overcame and got the win.
Who closed for both teams?
Interesting...there was a lot written on another string of posts on this site recently about the strength of Robinson's pitching staff this year, and the fact that the staff includes three D-1 commits. Then I see here that Mikush (their presumed #1) was pitching in his third game in six days -- and throws over 100 pitches to boot? At this point in the season?
If all of these facts are correct, something doesn't add up here. Any thoughts?
If all of these facts are correct, something doesn't add up here. Any thoughts?