Brewton Cal Ripken ends season
Published 8:25 am Friday, May 27, 2011
When it comes to the most important games in a season, it isn’t always the most celebrated players on a team who step up and contribute at the most opportune moments. And when the role players come through, it usually spells success.
That certainly was the case when the Diamondbacks faced the Indians on the final night of the Cal Ripken 9-10 Division season at the YMCA SportsPark with the Brewton League Championship on the line. And at a time when a clutch hit was needed in the worst way, the Jernigan brothers (Rider and Cole) and Kedarrius Jenkins provided the fireworks. And when the smoke had cleared and the Diamondbacks were able to score seven fifth-inning runs, they were able to win a 15-8 decision.
In an 11-12 Division game, the Yankees got a second-straight dominating pitching performance in as many nights. This time, it was Jason Konsler who beat the Phillies 10-3 on a three-hit, complete-game gem.
DIAMONDBACKS 15, INDIANS 8
After watching the Indians tie the game at 8-8 with a three-run fifth inning, the D’Backs put together an inning they will never forget. Micah Flores kick-started a six-hit, seven-run inning that was simply too much for the Indians to overcome.
Flores led off with a single, then scored on Matt Smith’s inside-the-park home run. Joseph Blackburn (RBI) singled and McGowan Bethea walked to set up three straight singles, the first a two-run single slapped to leftfield by Rider Jernigan. After a walk, Landon Sims smacked a two-run double.
In the sixth, the Indians had runners on second and third with one out but Smith, who pitched a complete game to get the win, struck out the final two batters. Smith struck out 13 en route to the victory.
The game went back-and-forth throughout the game, right up until the D’Back rally in the fifth that proved the difference. First, the Indians went up 2-0 in the first only to have the Backs score three to take the lead. Then, tied at 4-4 after two innings, the D’Backs (8-8) scored two in the third and two in the fourth to take an 8-5 lead. But the Indians (7-9) countered with three in the fifth to tie it, setting up the winning heroics.
Joseph Blackburn led all hitters with three hits, including a two-run triple, an a pair of RBI singles. Sims had a single and double in the game, while Smith added a single to his home run. Rider Jernigan singled and scored and had the two-run hit in the pivotal fifth. His brother Cole Jernigan also had a pair of hits.
For the Indians, Blake Jernigan had a double and single and scored four runs, while A.J. Greenwood singled three times and Trentez Johnson twice.
11-12 DIVISION
YANKEES 10, PHILLIES 3
While Jason Konsler was striking out 10 en route to a three-hit gem, his teammates were providing him with plenty of offensive support to complete an 8-2 season-ending run the helped the Yankees go from a 2-5 early-season record to finish at 10-7.
Led by a 3-for-3 effort at the plate from Caleb Winton, which included three RBIs, the Yankees had 10 hits on the night. While the Yankees had a narrow 2-1 lead early, they added four runs in the second and four more in the fourth to put it out of reach.
In the meantime, Konsler was holding the Phillies’ tough top four hitters to just a 2-for-10 night at the plate. Drew Williamson had a single in the fifth and scored on Austin Holmes’ double. Tyler Baxter had the only other hit when he smacked a double in the gap in the second inning.
The Yankees extended that 2-1 first inning lead in the second when Steven McCall and Joseph Nance led off with consecutive singles. Baylen Parker drew a one-out walk to load the bases before Troy Lewis reached on an error to score a run. Winton then came up and slapped a two-run single, just before his brother Joshua singled to score another run. Konsler reached on another error, which scored Lewis to make it 6-1.
At 6-2 in the fourth, the Yankees put it away after Preston Townsend crushed a three-run home run.
Along with Caleb Winton, Ty McFerrin, Konsler and Joshua Winton all contributed two hits.