PHOTOS: East clips West in 4A semifinal
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008
East's Jayson Hinrichsen slides safely into third as West's Matt Henning tries for the tag. East vs West baseball at Lewis and Clark Park Monday, July 14, 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)
PHOTO GALLERY
See a gallery of photos from the East-West game.
Jerad Barth's athletic future is right now.
"I've still got a year of high school to go, but my focus, the focus of our whole team, is on finding a way to get to the state tournament,'' said Barth after contributing a single, scoring a run and pitching the final two innings to earn a save in East's 9-8 victory over crosstown rival West Monday in a Class 4A substate baseball semifinal at Lewis and Clark Park.
East, now 26-9, outlasted West in an entertaining see-saw duel through the first two innings, then the Black Raiders of Coach Jared Ocker broke a 6-6 deadlock with three runs in the third inning, getting two on Britt Anderson's triple.
The Wolverines of Coach Matt Stevenson came back with a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but Ocker called on Barth, who retired six of the seven batters he faced in the sixth and seventh, allowing a walk to Dan Foreman in the sixth.
Barth, who toils most prominently as East's hard-hitting and slick-fielding shortstop, struck out three West batters.
"I love to pitch, especially getting in the game late when you're really challenged and you've got to be at your best,'' said Barth, who registered his seventh save. "Now, we've got a another chance at North and this is the game that means the most.''
East and second-ranked North will clash Wednesday night in the substate final at Lewis and Clark Park with a state tourney berth at stake.
North (37-4) has beaten East four times this summer.
Brandon Collins started on the mound for East, but lasted just 1 2/3 innings. He was replaced by Scott Lahn, who picked up the win, improving to 6-1.
East, which won despite making five errors, earned its fifth win over West this season, with three of the games close calls determined by two runs.
Seven of West's runs were unearned as the Wolverines, who finished the season 15-23, capitalized on the Raider miscues.
East collected nine hits off starter Alex Jones and Nick Forneris, who relieved in the second and was saddled with the loss.
East catcher Richard Swan pounded a two-run triple the first inning, freshman second baseman Jayson Hinrichsen tripled and scored in the second when Anderson also singled in a run.
West's C.J. Nolen singled twice and tripled and scored in the fourth inning. His single in the second inning also plated a run.
"The way the first two innings went I didn't know if we'd ever get out of the park,'' said West's Stevenson, whose team toppled Council Bluffs Lewis Central in the first round. The Wolverines closed strong, winning eight of their last 12 games. "East has outstanding hitters. We couldn't keep them off the bases.''
Because Ocker had to use Collins, Lahn and Barth, he said his pitching plans for the Wednesday duel with North are yet to be determined.
"We could come back with Tanner Murphy (who beat Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson in the first round) and Brandon was in there for less than two innings,'' said Ocker. "We'll have to see.''
The final Wednesday is at 7 o'clock and North will start junior ace Dean McArdle on the mound.
West 240 200 0 -- 8 7 1
East 423 000 x -- 9 9 5
Alex Jones, Nick Forneris (2) and Chris Harbeck; Brandon Collins, Scott Lahn (2), Jerad Barth (6) and Richard Swan. WP -- Lahn (6-1). LP -- Forneris (1-1). Save -- Barth (7).
See a gallery of photos from the East-West game.
Jerad Barth's athletic future is right now.
"I've still got a year of high school to go, but my focus, the focus of our whole team, is on finding a way to get to the state tournament,'' said Barth after contributing a single, scoring a run and pitching the final two innings to earn a save in East's 9-8 victory over crosstown rival West Monday in a Class 4A substate baseball semifinal at Lewis and Clark Park.
East, now 26-9, outlasted West in an entertaining see-saw duel through the first two innings, then the Black Raiders of Coach Jared Ocker broke a 6-6 deadlock with three runs in the third inning, getting two on Britt Anderson's triple.
The Wolverines of Coach Matt Stevenson came back with a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but Ocker called on Barth, who retired six of the seven batters he faced in the sixth and seventh, allowing a walk to Dan Foreman in the sixth.
Barth, who toils most prominently as East's hard-hitting and slick-fielding shortstop, struck out three West batters.
"I love to pitch, especially getting in the game late when you're really challenged and you've got to be at your best,'' said Barth, who registered his seventh save. "Now, we've got a another chance at North and this is the game that means the most.''
East and second-ranked North will clash Wednesday night in the substate final at Lewis and Clark Park with a state tourney berth at stake.
North (37-4) has beaten East four times this summer.
Brandon Collins started on the mound for East, but lasted just 1 2/3 innings. He was replaced by Scott Lahn, who picked up the win, improving to 6-1.
East, which won despite making five errors, earned its fifth win over West this season, with three of the games close calls determined by two runs.
Seven of West's runs were unearned as the Wolverines, who finished the season 15-23, capitalized on the Raider miscues.
East collected nine hits off starter Alex Jones and Nick Forneris, who relieved in the second and was saddled with the loss.
East catcher Richard Swan pounded a two-run triple the first inning, freshman second baseman Jayson Hinrichsen tripled and scored in the second when Anderson also singled in a run.
West's C.J. Nolen singled twice and tripled and scored in the fourth inning. His single in the second inning also plated a run.
"The way the first two innings went I didn't know if we'd ever get out of the park,'' said West's Stevenson, whose team toppled Council Bluffs Lewis Central in the first round. The Wolverines closed strong, winning eight of their last 12 games. "East has outstanding hitters. We couldn't keep them off the bases.''
Because Ocker had to use Collins, Lahn and Barth, he said his pitching plans for the Wednesday duel with North are yet to be determined.
"We could come back with Tanner Murphy (who beat Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson in the first round) and Brandon was in there for less than two innings,'' said Ocker. "We'll have to see.''
The final Wednesday is at 7 o'clock and North will start junior ace Dean McArdle on the mound.
West 240 200 0 -- 8 7 1
East 423 000 x -- 9 9 5
Alex Jones, Nick Forneris (2) and Chris Harbeck; Brandon Collins, Scott Lahn (2), Jerad Barth (6) and Richard Swan. WP -- Lahn (6-1). LP -- Forneris (1-1). Save -- Barth (7).
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bob wrote on Mar 23, 2009 9:10 AM:
Ken wrote on Jul 15, 2008 9:16 AM: