Opening Thoughts: First and foremost, Northwest hits 16 home runs and wins 3 of 4 ON THE ROAD where the guys were tested in 3 of the 4 games. Northwest came out on top in 2 of the 3 hotly contested games for a clutch series victory. I cannot be more proud of these Bearcats for a couple of reasons:
1) Fight & Heart. Heart & Fight. However you want to say it. These Cats are doing something that hasn't happened in a while...get the first lead of the game. That means a whole new set of pressure then what they may be accustomed to from past experiences. The 'Cats keep scratching and clawing and punching away until the last out. No quit.
2) Fox-hole, bunker brotherhood mentality. This is the 2nd weekend that I've seen the other team attempt to go after one of the Bearcats. The whole team had his back each time. I see leadership from upper-classmen, even those that aren't getting as much playing time as they'd like. I see young guys stepping up. I see guys that believe they can win and take it personally if one of their own is attacked. If you have talented kids that work hard and care about each other...the sky is the limit.
3) Role-models for the kids - I know they are college students, but the Bearcats are absolutely great with the kids. There were 4 or so Bearcat youngsters running around the stadium. The Bearcats made sure to hand out knuckles and high fives. The Bearcats also had some patience when it was time to get warm in the bullpen, a couple of the youngsters were not paying attention, and the guys worked around them until they noticed and moved without getting upset or short with them. These guys are a helluva lot of fun to root for.
Alex and I made the trip for Saturday's double-header. Alex got to give knuckles to the guys as they were running back from jogging to the fence then to the dugout. 2 very emotional and exciting games. Alex and I left Maryville around 9am and returned home Sunday morning around 1:15am. It was well worth the trip to see our Bearcats. I came home tired, happy, and hoarse. Read below to see why: Go Cats!!
The B2R Chow line is very successful. Every weekend with a double-header, the guys have had lunch ready to go for them. This weekend, the guys got a little extra treat. Heck, you set a new team record for runs scored in a game, you get a special treat from the B2R chow line. A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the cause. If you haven't contributed, do not feel bad. This is not an obligation thing. We are doing for our team what the other teams do not...that's the point. We love our guys and the guys appreciate it very much. I can't tell you how many thank yous I receive every time setting up. What the guys don't really know is, I'm the one making out on the deal because it makes me feel like we contribute to the team. Go Cats!!
With so many home runs, I had to put together a little diddy with some special effects. I hope you like the 1812 Overture and dig the slide show. My wife says I'm a geek. She's right but I think this is a suuwwwweeeeeeet video:
In Game 1, Northwest set a new TEAM RECORD for runs scored by scoring 29 runs against Fort Hays in a lopsided 29-3 victory. The new record broke the previous record set at 28 runs scored on March 11, 2007 versus Minnesota Crookston and April 2, 1990, versus Missouri Western. Offensively, Northwest hit 8 home runs in the game, had an additional 5 extra-base hits on top of the home runs, got hit by a pitch 7 times, and stole 1 base in the offensive assault on the Tigers. On top of all the above, Northwest left 13 runners on base. Take your pick on the offensive star in this game but I'll start with my top 2:
Travis Green went 4 for 5 with 5 RBIs, 4 runs scored, 3 Home runs, 1 double; and
Eric McGlauflin went 5 for 6 with 3 RBIs, 3 runs scored, 1 double.
Other very important offensive stars include:
Eric Swain went 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs, 3 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 double, 1 home run, 1 sacrifice fly, 2 hit by pitches;
Ryan Abernathy went 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 1 walk;
Cameron Bedard went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, 4 runs scored, 2 walks, 1 home run;
Jon Pomatto went 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs, 4 runs scored, 2 walks, 2 home runs;
Steven Garber went 1 for 1 with 4 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 home run (GRAND SLAM);
The Northwest offense forced Fort Hays State to burn through 7 pitchers.
Defensively, Northwest did not commit an error in the game.
Bearcat Ace Chris Green earned the complete game victory moving his season record to 2-0. Chris pitched 7.0 innings, allowed 7 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, 2 wild pitches. The GANG GREEN (Chris Green pitching to Travis Green catching) proved too much for the Tigers to handle this day.
In Game 2, Northwest lost a heart-breaker 8-9 on a bang-bang play at 1st base. Carson Smith had gotten the 'Cats out of a jam with the winning run on 3rd with 1 out by getting the 2nd out. Add in a dribbler and a bang-bang play at 1st that the ump called safe and you have a Fort Hays victory. Both squads had cleared the benches with Northwest players protesting the call, followed by a late entry by Fort Hays Tigers to celebrate the victory after the umps emphatic call. Some Tigers began to make derogatory statements towards the Bearcat players and tempers flared. The Northwest coaching staff got the guys to return to the dugout but the Tigers just fired-up the 'Cats. Offensively, the Bearcats hit 2 home runs for a weekend total of 10 home runs so far. Nathaniel Horton went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored. Jake Kretzer went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, 1 run scored, 1 home run, and 2 stolen bases. Travis Green went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 2 walks, and 1 home run. Eric Swain went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 1 double, 1 stolen base. Eric McGlauflin went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, 1 walk, and 1 stolen base. Alex Singleton went 1 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Defensively, the Bearcats were charged with 2 errors but there were some misplayed balls counted as hits that should have been made.
Marcus Garrett received a no decision and worked 4.2 innings, allowed 9 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, 1 strike-out, and hit 1 batter. Nick Caldrone came in relief and worked 0.1 inning, allowed 1 hit and got 1 strike-out. Josh Parrish came in to close the game and worked 1.1 innings, allowed 3 hits, 2 runs (both earned), and 1 strike-out. Tough luck Carson Smith came in to get the Cats out of a jam and worked 0.1 inning, allowed a hit (according to the ump anyway) but the run was charged to Josh Parrish.
In Game 3, the Bearcats won 12-10 in a game where they were fired-up from the transaction of Game 1 of the doubleheader. The Bearcats jumped out to a huge lead early in the game only to see Fort Hays chip away at it inning by inning to the point where the 'Cats were hanging on to a 12-10 lead with 2 outs in the final frame with runners on 2nd and 3rd and the winning run at the plate. A dribbler in front of the catcher, a routine throw to 1st base, and the Bearcats pick-up a big victory on the road. Offensively, the Bearcats hit 4 home runs to add to the weekend total of 14 home runs so far. The two stars of the game were as follows:
Ryan Abernathy went 3 for 4 with 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 home run, and 1 stolen base;
Cameron Bedard went 3 for 4 with 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, and 1 stolen base;
Steven Garber went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and 2 home runs
Other offensive stars include:
Eric Swain went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 double;
Eric McGlauflin went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk;
Travis Green went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI, 1 run scored;
Tyler Durant went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs, 1 run scored and 1 double;
Jake Kretzer went 1 for 4 with 3 RBIs, 1 run scored, 1 home run.
Defensively, Northwest was charged with 2 errors in the game.
Chase Anderson picked-up a Win and moved his season record to 1-2 after he worked 5.0 innings, allowed 8 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, and 2 strike-outs. Sean Brady had a tough outing, did not record an out in the game, allowed 3 hits, 3 runs (only 1 earned), and threw 2 wild pitches. Nick Caldrone came in to relieve Sean and worked 0.1 inning, allowed 0 hits, 1 run (unearned), and gave-up 1 walk. Carson Smith picked-up his first collegiate save and worked 1.2 innings, allowed 3 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, and 2 strike-outs.
In Game 4, Northwest wins the road series outright with another narrow 12-11 victory in Hays, Kansas. The game lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes, played in front of 101 people, and the weather was sunny and 60s. Northwest hit another 2 home runs to push the weekend's total to an amazing 16. Offensively, Steven Garber, Eric Swain, and Ryan Abernathy were the big men on campus. Steven Garber went 2 for 5 with 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and 1 home run. Eric Swain went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs, 3 runs scored, and 1 home run. Ryan Abernathy went 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 1 walk, and 2 doubles. Other offensive stars included:
Cam Bedard went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI, 1 double, and he got hit by a pitch;
Eric McGlauflin went 1 for 2 with 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 3 walks, and 1 double;
Tyler Durant went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI, 1 run scored.
In total, 3 Bearcats got hit by a pitch.
Defensively, Northwest was charged with 2 errors.
Jace Anderson got the start but did not factor into the decision as he worked 3.2 innings, allowed 11 hits, 8 runs (all earned), 2 walks, and 3 strike-outs. Nathaniel Horton picked-up his first victory of the season to move his 2012 record to 1-1 and worked 1.2 innings, allowed 3 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 0 walks, 1 strike-out, 2 wild pitches. The star of the game was Josh Parrish who picked-up his first save of the 2012 season in a clutch performance. Parrish worked 3.2 innings, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, and struck-out 2 batters. If this game is an indication that Josh, the coaches, or both were able to make an adjustment...ladies and gentlemen, we've got a team that will win a conference championship.
Go Cats!!
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