Photo by Jordan Haiduk
The Emporia AAAs get in a break before returning to the field during Sunday’s game against Wichita during the Sam Ellis Classic at Soden’s Grove.
Aaron Lechien calls Zach Gifford an unconventional nine-hole hitter.
The Emporia AAAs coach still was plenty glad that Gifford was in that position to help lift up Emporia’s offense on Sunday.
With the bases loaded in the first, Gifford provided a crucial two-run single from the bottom of the lineup, helping the AAAs take control early in a 10-4 victory over Wichita in the Sam Ellis Classic fifth-place game.
“We all really needed (the win),” Gifford said. “We’ve been playing hard. It’s pretty great that we came together and pulled out a win.”
Lechien had batted Gifford in the two-hole earlier this year. The coach said Gifford was a good enough hitter to be in the No. 5 through 7 slots in the order.
Still, Lechien preferred to have him at the end, serving instead as a second leadoff hitter.
“I kind of like him down there because he sees a lot of fastballs and he does a good job of hitting behind runners,” Lechien said. “He does a good job of moving guys as well.”
Gifford’s contribution helped Emporia build a 5-0 lead in the top of the first.
With one out, Cameron Smith reached on an error, then Jared Krause was hit by a pitch.
Photo by Jordan Haiduk
The Emporia AAAs’ Michael Knight throws across the infield during Sunday’s game against Wichita during the Sam Ellis Classic at Soden’s Grove. Emporia won, 10-4.
Smith later scored on a passed ball, while Krause advanced home on a double steal.
James Sparks walked, and after Dylan Smith was hit by a pitch, Harrison Stone and Trevor Turney worked consecutive walks to force in a run.
Gifford followed by driving a line-drive single to left on an inside fastball, scoring two more and forcing Wichita starter Zach Neville out of the game.
“I thought we were right there the whole tournament — we just weren’t getting a lot of breaks,” Lechien said. “We did a good job of getting out to an early lead and just kept putting it on them.”
The AAAs slugged their way to three more runs in the second.
Cameron Smith started the inning with a triple to deep center, and after a popout, Sparks and Michael Knight followed with consecutive run-scoring doubles.
Turney provided the other RBI on a two-out infield single.
Sparks, Stone and Taylor Clark pitched two innings each to preserve the win. None of the Emporia pitchers allowed more than two runs.
The trio combined for just three walks while striking out five.
“We did a good job of getting ahead early,” Lechien said, “and working off-speed off that.”
Emporia was led offensively by Gifford, who finished 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBI. Knight added three hits, including a double.
The victory snapped the AAAs’ four-game losing streak.
“It was pretty crucial,” Lechien said. “I’m not going to say it was going to make or break our season, because I think our team’s more mentally tough than that, but it’s just nice to get a little momentum for the upcoming week and the weeks after that.”
Ottawa 18,
Emporia AAAs 8
Emporia fell victim to two big innings in its 18-8 loss to Ottawa on Saturday in the Sam Ellis Classic.
The AAAs grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first before allowing consecutive eight-run innings in the third and fourth. Ottawa ended the game in the bottom of the fourth by enforcing the 10-run rule.
James Sparks led Emporia’s bats with a home run. Zach Gifford and Michael Knight added doubles.
Jared Krause took the loss on the mound.
Saturday at Soden’s Grove
Ottawa 18, Emporia AAAs 8, 4 innings
Emporia AAAs 300 5XX X — 8 6 2
Ottawa 118 8XX X — 18 15 4
W — Curtis Clayton. L — Jared Krause.
2B — Emporia: Michael Knight, Zach Gifford; Ottawa: Blake Firestone, Joe Malin, Blake Hiatt 2. HR — Emporia: James Sparks; Ottawa: Firestone. SB — Emporia: Taylor Clark, Cameron Smith; Ottawa: Freddie Adamson, Hiatt. Emporia AAAs highlights — Sparks 1-3, HR, R; Zach Gifford 1-2, 2B, R; Michael Knight 1-2, 2B, R.
Sunday at Soden’s Grove
Emporia AAAs 10, Wichita 4
Emporia AAAs 531 100 X — 10 11 2
Wichita 021 001 X — 4 5 1
W — Harrison Stone. L — Zach Neville.
2B — Emporia: Jared Krause, James Sparks, Michael Knight; Wichita: Marshall Frey; 3B — Emporia: Cameron Smith. SB — Emporia: C. Smith, J. Krause 2, Brandon Little, Knight; Wichita: Frey 2, Steven Bauer, Eric Faust 2, Jon-Henry Hattabaugh, Drew Walters 2, Corey Rider. Emporia AAAs highlights — Zach Gifford 2-2, 2BB, 2 RBI; Michael Knight 3-4, 2B, RBI, R, SB; James Sparks 1-1, 2B, RBI; Jared Krause 1-3, 2B, 2R, 2 SB, RBI, SF.
Comments
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)