Emporia A-16s coach Aaron Lechien isn’t saying he’d like to “trade” any of his pitchers. He’d just like to have a few more, that’s all.
That’s because right now, the 16s are dealing with tired and worn-out arms on a roster of just 10 players, a fact more than evident during Wednesday night’s doubleheader sweep at the hands of Manhattan Manko. Manhattan run-ruled the 16s in both games, 10-2 and 18-4.
“We’re down to just a few guys who can go (pitch) right now,” Lechien said. “Their arms were kind of hanging.
“It would be nice to have a few extra arms.”
Manhattan, the defended State champions, pounded out a whopping 25 hits and drew 10 walks against six different Emporia pitchers in the doubleheader, while Emporia gave up innings of four, seven and eight runs in just eight total innings played.
“We’re worn out,” said Derek Nielsen, who pitched the final inning of the second game. “Our pitching was pretty good at times, but they hit the ball hard and they hit it in gaps. We couldn’t really do anything about it.”
The trouble for Emporia didn’t really begin until the fourth inning of the first game. Up to that point, Manhattan held a 3-2 lead, and Emporia starter Nick Riggs had been hit hard at times but was solid nonetheless.
But Riggs gave way to Derek Krause to start the fourth, and eight consecutive Manhattan batters reached base in part thanks to six hits. Manhattan batted around the order in scoring four runs to take a 7-2 lead.
It didn’t get any better in the fifth, as three Emporia errors aided Manhattan in plating three more runs to make it 10-2. After Emporia failed to score in its half of the frame, the game was ended by the eight-runs-after-five rule.
Things got even worse for the 16s right out of the gate in Game Two.
Dominic Rodriguez drew the start for Emporia and immediately ran into trouble when he walked the first two batters and hit another to load the bases. A fielder’s choice that plated a run, an RBI double and another walk to re-load the bases chased Rodriguez from the mound after just 1/3 of an inning of work.
“My arm wasn’t feeling that great,” Rodriguez said. “Coach asked me if I could throw a couple innings, and I said, ‘Yeah,’ but I didn’t have it.”
Josh Posey came on in relief and didn’t fare any better. By the time the first inning was over, Manhattan had pushed seven runs home on just three hits.
Emporia responded in its half of the first, however, when Posey led off with a double to the wall in right-center and Dylan Smith reached on a fielding error by the Manhattan shortstop to put two on for Bryan Little, who knocked a two-RBI double to right field to make it 7-2. Little later scored on a sacrifice fly by Riggs that pulled Emporia to within four at 7-3.
“We did a good job there in the first coming back with a three-spot, hitting some balls off the wall and hustling,” Lechien said.
But the Manhattan offense kept chugging along, scoring eight more runs in the second inning on eight hits to go up 15-3.
In the first two frames of Game Two, Manhattan sent a total of 26 batters to the plate, twice batting around the order. Manhattan tacked on three more runs in the third, and after Emporia could only get one run home in its half of the third, the game was called.
“We like to put pressure on the defense — bunt, hit-and-run, steal, a lot of that type of stuff,” Lechien said. “When you’re down by eight or nine runs, it’s tough to do.”
The 16s now will take a few days away from games before play in the Zone Tournament begins next week.
The break couldn’t come at a better time for Emporia, as the weary players will finally get a chance to recharge.
“They come to the field knowing they’re going to play, so there’s always an eagerness to go out and practice hard and play hard,” Lechien said. “I really wouldn’t trade any of these guys for anybody else.”
Wednesday at Emporia
Game One
Manhattan 10, Emporia A-16s 2
Manhattan 102 43X X — 10 12 2
Emporia A-16s 101 00X X — 2 3 3
W — Keagan Rawhouser. L — Nick Riggs.
2B — Emporia: Derek Nielsen, Josh Posey. ST — Manhattan: Matt Gee 2, Bryce Westphal, Colin Giambrone, Alex Moran; Emporia: Derek Nielsen, Trevor Turney.
Emporia highlights — Derek Nielsen 1-2, 2B, 2R; Josh Posey 1-3, 2B, RBI; Dylan Smith 1-3, RBI.
Game Two
Manhattan 18, Emporia A-16s 4
Manhattan 783 XXX X — 18 13 1
Emporia A-16s 301 XXX X — 4 4 1
W — Bryce Westphal. L — Dominic Rodriguez.
2B — Manhattan: Brandon Hoefler, Matt Gee 2, Matt Chalfant; Emporia: Josh Posey, Brandon Little. ST — Manhattan: Brandon Hoefler, Colin Giambrone, Alex Reed, Luis Gonzalez.
Emporia highlights — Josh Posey 2-2, 2B, R; Brandon Little 1-2, 2B, 2R.