Published: May 14, 2008 11:31 am            

Playoff run ends for Jackets and Dogs

Second round pressure proves too much for Eustace and Kemp baseball teams

The lake area’s two surviving Class 3A baseball teams were eliminated in the area-round of the state playoffs last week.

Eustace was beaten out two games to none by Pittsburgh, and Kemp lost a pair to Pleasant Grove to bring the season to an end for both teams.

The Dogs lost the opener last Thursday when Pittsburgh ruined a seventh-inning rally by Eustace to throw the game into extra innings, then came up with five back-breaking runs.

Eustace finished the season 20-13.

The Kemp Yellow Jackets lost their opener, 2-0, to Pleasant Grove, then saw their season come to an end on an off day, losing to the same team, 10-2.

The Jackets loaded the bases in three different innings in this one, but came away with just one run.

“We just could not execute at the plate tonight. We came out flat and played flat throughout the game,” said a disappointed Coach Cody Ross. “ I take nothing away from Pleasant Grove. They are a good ball club and well-coached. But it’s much thought to lose, knowing you didn’t play your best game.

“I really hate it for our seniors. We have seven of them and these guys have been playing together for a long time.

Its tough to lose as a coach but when you lose the type of seniors I had the opportunity to coach, it hurts a little deeper. Good news is we have some young talent coming back that got to feel what its like to lose in the playoffs, that should make us hungry for more as we begin preparing for next season.” The Jackets finish their season at 19-10, 5 wins better than last season.

Pleasant Grove jumped out early with three unearned runs in the first en route to a 10-2 victory. in the decisive Game 2.

Nick Sallings got the start and went seven innings, allowing seven hits giving up 10 runs but only three of those were earned.

The Jackets were kept off balance all night at the plate and managed only two runs, one on a sacrifice fly from senior second baseman, Jeremy Bush, and the other coming off an error.

Thursday night featured a pitchers duel as Pleasant Grove ace Michael Wacha and Kemp’s Mikie Scruggs went toe to toe for seven innings. Two Kemp errors in the first inning gave way to the only runs of the game as the Yellow Jackets fell in game one, 2-0.

Mikie Scruggs went the distance allowing no earned runs on just five hits, striking out six and issuing no walks to get the hard-luck loss.

PITTSBURGH VS. EUSTACE

Game 1:

May 8:

Pittsburgh 5 6 1

Eustace 3 7 2

WP — Ferguson

LP — Cope

Save — Duncan

HR- (Pittsburgh) Duncan; 2b-(Pittsburgh) Duncan, (Eustace) Strickland



Game 2:

May 9:

Pittsburg 9 9 5

Eustace 4 6 6 (8 innings)

WP- Jarrod Duncan

LP- Ryan Compton

        

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