It's like starting over again

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Fort Scott's Bryan Weilert runs the bases during the bottom of the sixth inning of the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with Independence at Ty Cullor Field. Weilert went on to score but the Tigers lost the game, 3-2. Fort Scott came back in the second game, winning 4-0 to salvage a split. (Captured Images/Kenny Felt)

Taking the field for the first time in 18 days, it had to feel like starting the season over again for Fort Scott High's baseball team as it split a Southeast Kansas League doubleheader with Independence at Ty Cullor Field.

"That's exactly how it was," Fort Scott head coach B.J. Pruitt said of a night when the Tigers lost the opener 3-2 but recovered to win the nightcap 4-0.

Now, the Tigers (1-1 in the SEK, 2-3 overall) have to play six times this week, including these games you're reading about now, tonight's doubleheader with Pittsburg and Friday's twinbill with Labette County. Tonight's and Friday's action begin at 4:30 p.m. and each pair will be played at Lions Field (Lions Field was in use by Fort Scott Community College Tuesday, necessitating the Tigers' move to Ty Cullor).

They'll also have to play five games in three days next week, all on the road: Two at Parsons on April 22; two at Coffeyville on the 24th and one at Nevada on the 25th.

Going from no games in 18 days to 11 in as many days is going to put a burden on the Tigers' pitching staff. The performances of opening-game pitcher Alex Pemberton and second-game hurler John Leek were key for this reason.

"With these two having good outings," Pruitt said, "it helps our pitching staff. It's not like we have tons of pitching. We're going to have to throw a lot of strikes and keep our pitch counts low. Alex and John, those two keeping their pitch counts low was very helpful."

Pemberton (0-1) pitched well enough to win the opener, going the first six innings. He allowed seven hits, didn't walk anyone although he did hit two batters, and struck out four.

Cole Pasternak, though, was doing even better. Indy's starter held the Tigers to one earned run on one hit, walked three and struck out seven. Grant Webster pitched a perfect seventh, striking out two on his way to a save.

The Tigers' bats might have been a tad rusty from all that unneeded rest, which could be blamed for the most part on how it seemed to rain every time they were scheduled to play for the last two weeks.

"We struggled at the plate trying to find our timing," Pruitt noted. "In the second game, we started to come out and start having good swings."

Independence scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead. The Tigers got one of those back in the bottom of the frame. Mikey Karleskint led off with a walk and stole second. Consecutive groundouts to second by Alex Bowman and Leek, each scored as sacrifices, brought Karleskint in.

Indy scored again in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. The Tigers cut the deficit to one in the sixth. Bryan Weilert reached on an error to lead off the inning. He stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Pasternak balked.

Blake Nelson had the Tigers' only hit of the game in that inning, getting a single just after Weilert scored.

Leek (1-0) held Independence (4-2, 4-4) to five hits in game two and didn't walk a batter while striking out five. Webster started the second game for the Bulldogs but didn't match the form he had in closing out the opener and was pulled after four innings.

The Tigers scored single runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings. Nelson led off the first with a single, moved to second on a ground out, to third on a wild pitch and scored on Alex Bowman's single to right.

Pemberton, playing second base in the nightcap, drew a one-out walk in the second. He moved to second on a groundout and scored on Nelson's single to center.

Denton Ramsey led off the third and reached on an error. He moved up on a ground out, then got to third on a wild pitch. He scored on Matt Wheeler's single to right.

In the fifth, Andre Davis drew a leadoff walk. Wheeler singled to left and both runners gained a base on a passed ball. Pemberton then hit back to the pitcher, who made an errant throw trying to get Davis at home, resulting in the final run.

Wheeler was two for three in the second game while Nelson was two for four.

"We started to focus at the plate," Pruitt said. "And it's at a time when we need to start peaking."

Even though the Tigers will have to play a lot of games in a short period of time, there's a bright side to the rush of games.

"It's better to be playing a lot of games now," Pruitt said, "than to be set around another three weeks going into Regionals."


NOTES -- Today's opponent, Pittsburg, played Carthage (Mo.) in a single game Tuesday night. The score was not available prior to deadline....

The Tigers have played just five games, the fewest of any team in the SEK. Coffeyville (5-5) has already played 10. Labette County (4-4 going into Tuesday's twinbill with Sedan) will have also played 10 games. Chanute (3-5) and Independence have each played eight....

Game One

Independence... 000 210 0 -- 3 7 1

Fort Scott.......... 000 101 0 -- 2 1 4

WP -- Pasternak. PL -- Pemberton (0-1). Sv. -- Webster.

HR -- none.

Game Two

Independence... 000 000 0 -- 0 5 5

Fort Scott.......... 111 010 x -- 4 6 3

WP -- Leek (1-0). LP -- Webster.

HR -- none.