Staying Out of Trouble
A-15s use solid hitting, fundamentals to sweep Junction City; Emporia takes 3 of 4 games over weekend
By Jesse Newell
Monday, June 25, 2007
Brian Keisler knew there was a lot at stake when he squared around to bunt in the Emporia A-15s’ second game against Junction City Sunday.
Especially with Emporia coach Dick Evans watching his every move in the third-base coaches’ box.
“I wanted to get it down,” Keisler said, “so I wouldn’t get in trouble.”
Turned out Keisler had nothing to worry about.
The Emporia infielder laid down a perfect bunt, reaching first safely on a hit and helping Emporia to a four-run inning in its 9-3 victory over Junction City on Sunday.
The 15s also won the first game, 7-5.
“We’re playing more as a team and hitting the ball more,” Keisler said. “Everything’s clicking.”
That included the little things like bunting, which made Evans all the prouder on Sunday.
Evans had recently became upset after his team failed to put down bunts six different times in a game last week.
The coach said he had no problem putting some pressure on his players to execute the fundamentals.
“Do I yell? I’ve never been known to yell,” Evans said with a laugh. “Hey, whatever it takes to get the bunt down. That could be a big run.”
Keisler’s well-placed drag bunt down the third-base line scored a run and also set the table for the big fifth inning, as Jacob Loucks and Adam Ewy later contributed RBI singles to give Emporia a 9-3 lead.
Meanwhile, Emporia was able to get the pitching done by committee, as Keisler, Loucks and Nick Hrabik all came on in relief of Ewy.
Combined, they allowed just three runs on seven hits, striking out six.
“I’ve basically got a pitching staff now,” Evans said. “There are seven guys that can pitch an inning, two,three, or four. That helps out a lot.”
Brett Lechien, Ethan Hall and Matt Fry all had two hits apiece for the 15s.
In Game One, Emporia jumped out to an early lead and held on from there.
The 15s scored four in the second, as Ewy singled and Fry delivered an RBI double. Nate Flannigan followed with a walk, and after a Nick Hrabik RBI groundout, Lechien posted a run-scoring single.
Loucks took the win on the mound, striking out the side in the second and fourth innings.
Fry, Lechien, Ewy and Loucks had Emporia’s four hits.
The victories turned out to be a little sweeter for the 15s, as they were swept by the same Junction City team in their third and fourth games of the season.
“It was nice to get two,” Keisler said. “We should have beat them last time, but we weren’t playing great.”
With the two wins, Emporia completed a 3-1 weekend after splitting with Salina at home on Saturday.
The A-15s won Game One, 9-7, before dropping Game Two, 8-7.
Emporia struck early on Saturday as well, posting four runs in the first.
Salina tied it with four in the top of the third, but the A-15s added one in the bottom of the frame, two in the fourth and two more in the sixth.
“I’m real proud of the hitters,” Evans said. “They just keep coming at you.”
Hall took the win, and Keisler and Loucks both contributed two hits.
Emporia had every opportunity to win the second game as well.
The 15s scored three in the bottom of the seventh to pull within one.
With the bases loaded and two outs, a groundout ended the threat and the game.
Matt Weathred led Emporia, going 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored.
Over the weekend, the 15s averaged 8 runs per game.
“That’s really making the difference,” Evans said. “We’ve gotten a lot of guys on base, and we have a lot of patient hitters.”
Emporia (10-9) will play Tuesday at home against Topeka.
Sunday at Emporia
Game One
Emporia 7, Junction City 5
Junction City 000 014 0 — 5 5 3
Emporia A-15s 042 100 X — 7 4 2
W — Jacob Loucks. L — Denny Gabbard.
2B — Junction City: Michael Gannon; Emporia: Matt Fry. SB — Junction City: Nathen Kozlowski, Jeffrey Childs, Mitchell Jeffrey; Emporia: Brian Keisler, Ethan Hall 2, Matt Fry, Nick Hrabik.
Emporia A-15 highlights — Matt Fry 1-2, 2B, 2R, RBI, SB; Adam Ewy 1-2, R, SB; Brett Lechien 1-3, R, RBI, BB; Jacob Loucks 1-4.
Game Two
Emporia 9, Junction City 3
Junction City 101 100 0 — 3 7 4
Emporia A-15s 301 140 X — 9 9 1
W — Adam Ewy. L — Michael Gannon.
2B — Junction City: Nathen Kozlowski, Bradley Dill. SB — Junction City: Nathen Kozlowski, Blake Morgan, Michael Gannon, Mick Coleman, Thomas Plummer; Emporia: Matt Fry, Ethan Hall.
Emporia A-15 highlights — Brett Lechien 2-3, 2R; Ethan Hall 2-3, 2R, SB; Matt Fry 2-4, 2R, SB; Brian Keisler 1-2, SF, 2R, RBI.
Saturday at Emporia
Game One
Emporia 9, Salina 7
Salina 004 002 1 — 7 9 2
Emporia A-15s 401 202 X — 9 7 2
W — Ethan Hall. L — Weaver.
Emporia A-15 highlights — Brian Keisler 2-5, 2B, R; Jacob Loucks 2-3, 2R, 2 HBP, 2 SB; Nate Flannigan 0-0, R 2BB, 2 HBP; Matt Fry 1-2, R, 2BB.
Game Two
Salina 8, Emporia 7
Salina 040 001 3 — 8 8 6
Emporia A-15s 011 100 3 — 7 7 1
W — Toogood. L — Malik Sommers.
Emporia A-15 highlights — Matt Weathred 2-2, 3B, 2 R, HBP; Nick Hrabik 1-1, 2B, SAC, R, RBI; Brett Lechien 1-4, BB.