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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Varsity dominating the diamond

Hitting, pitching and defense coming around for Braves

By Bruce Mason, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: May 3, 2007

After several one-run losses to open the season 0-5, the tables have turned for Ypsilanti varsity baseball.

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Terry Bingham's team has now reeled off seven consecutive victories.

On April 23, Ypsilanti defeated Gibraltar Carlson in an 8-2 rout. Jacob Rhodes and Cory Reynolds each went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Kyle Drummond and Clyde Gentry each went 2-for-3.

Reynolds pitched a complete game on the mound, giving up six hits and striking out five batters. He gave up two runs in the first then settled in and did not give up a run the rest of the way. With the win, Reynolds improved to 2-3 on the season.

On Saturday, Ypsilanti swept its doubleheader against Dexter. Sophomore Craig Swope's RBI single in the second inning, to knock in Gentry, proved to be the difference as Ypsilanti went onto win the first game, 1-0.

Senior Elijah Jentzen pitched a complete game, giving up just four hits while striking out two batters.

In the second game, Ypsilanti won 6-3. Senior Eric Nolan went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Junior Justin Krakowski went 2-for-4 on the day. Gentry got the win on the mound, Reynolds was awarded with the save.

After averaging nine strikeouts a game in its opening five losses, Ypsilanti has averaged just three strikeouts a game in seven consecutive wins.

"We've really started putting the ball in play," Bingham said. "Our top four hitters are really producing."

Bingham credited Nolan, Krakowski, Rhodes and Reynolds with producing much of the offense.

The pitching and defense has been consistently good, and Bingham praised Jentzen, Reynolds and Drummond for their work on the mound.

Behind the plate, teams are reluctant to steal on Rhodes, who is bound for Eastern Michigan and has thrown out 13 runners at first and second base by throwing behind runners.

"He's really taken some teams out," Bingham said. "Being able to do that has really helped us out."

Bruce Mason is a freelance sports writer for The View and Courier newspapers. He can be reached at brucemason19@hotmail.com.