Pioneers send Goblins Hobblin'

published Thursday, May 6, 2004

It's 12:40 AM and all the Goblins are headed home to Harrison. However, the Pioneers are going home for a few quick winks in preperation for their return to Mills and their Semi-Final Match up with White Hall tomorrow at 2:30 PM. The Noon game tomorrow will set the other side of the championship game when Greenwood and Sylvan Hills face off. I spoke with the Sylvan Hills coaches for a few minutes and they are predicting a close game. The scoop on tomorrow for the Pioneers is to expect Pitcher Jeremy Burba to retake the mound against White Hall. White Hall has held their best pitcher in reserve just for us so it's only fair that we reciprocate.

This evenings game was never in doubt. The traditional Batesville one, two punch of strong pitching and hitting left Harrison down 8 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Pitcher Grant Gatlin pitched strongly through the first 6 2/3 inning gathering 9 strikouts along the way. The strike zone which appeared a little lopsided to me, seemed to tighten a little and in order to close out the game Coach Smith brought in reliever Kyle Altom for the last out. The Sylvan Hills coaches reported Gatlin's top velocity at 88 mph for the evening.
The batting and defense closed the circle with plenty of base runners and almost perfect defense. Weldon Davis made a great catch at the fence in right field, possibly robbing the Goblin of a home run with all the other Pioneers performing great in their positions. The Pioneer batters had big innings in the second with 4 runs and again in the third with 4 more. Their last run of the night was a lone run in the sixth. Final Score: Pioneers 9, White Hall 4. Sorry for the brevity, but I'm up at 5:00 AM so I can get in a few hours of work before the fun starts. See you there!