The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Rough start for Braves
By Bruce Mason, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
March 24 was a tough day for Ypsilanti varsity baseball.
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Whether the Ypsilanti bats scored minimal runs, or multiple runs, both games of a doubleheader against cross-town rivals Ann Arbor Huron ended in the same result - a one run loss.
In the first game, the Braves fell just short in a 5 - 4 loss. In the second game, the bats came alive, as Ypsilanti runners crossed the plate more than a dozen times, only to lose in a 16 -15 heartbreaker.
Ypsilanti varsity baseball coach Terry Bigham said it was a tough one to swallow.
"A long day at the ball park," Bigham said. "We should've won both games today."
The varsity Braves were down four runs entering the seventh inning in game two, and that was when they crossed the plate twice to take a two-run lead.
But the first and second Huron batters in the bottom half of the seventh reached base on walks, then the tying run was walked in and a single brought in the winning run to cap off the slug fest.
Ypsilanti senior Eric Noland went two for three with two walks, five runs scored, two stolen bases and a solo home run.
Justin Krakowski was went two for two and brought in a RBI. Cory Reynolds was two for four with a double and four RBI's while Elijah Jentzen went one for two with a home run.
"It's tough to lose when you score 15 runs," Bigham said. "We're a very inexperienced team. We're still looking for some solid pitching, (and) we have some things to work on.
"The kids are getting better, though."
In the first game, Huron scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the win.
Ypsilanti sophomore Craig Swope led the way for the varsity Braves hitting two for three with a double and a RBI, he also threw four and two-thirds innings giving up just two earned runs. Senior Jacob Rhodes, a four-year starter, was two for two with a triple and a RBI.
Later in the week, against Allen Park Mach 29, Reynolds kept his team in the game, pitching four and two-thirds innings before leaving when his pitch count hit 60.
He was a victim of four unearned runs, and when he left the field, Ypsilanti was trailing, 5-4, in the fifth inning.
Then the dam burst wide open.
Allen Park scored four runs in the sixth en route to a 10 - 4 victory.
Ypsilanti's Quetzalcoatl Carrasco was one for three with two RBI's and Reynolds went two for three bringing in one run.
Ypsilanti is 0 - 3 on the young season. It played at Trenton this past Tuesday, and then opened the Mega Blue schedule at Woodhaven on Wednesday.
"We need to improve on our pitching, and cut down on the errors," Bigham said. "Our hitting has definitely been our strength.
"The kids are expecting to win."
Bruce Mason is a freelance sports writer for The View and Courier newspapers. He can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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