The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
After rough start, varsity team improving
By Bruce Mason, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007
It's only a matter of time before sweaty-palmed nervousness translates into soothing comfort.
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At least that's true in the case of Ypsilanti varsity baseball.
Remember those one-run losses early in the season? When the team would be down 2-0, only to walk off the diamond hanging their heads as the scoreboard read defeat?
It translated into a more comfortable, late-inning approach and, as a result, Ypsilanti has reeled off 11 victories in their past 14 games.
"They've learned to win, which is really important," said Ypsilanti coach Terry Bigham, adding his team used to wait for things to unravel. "They expect to win."
Ypsilanti defeated Wyandotte Roosevelt, 10-4, on Monday, May 7. Justin Krakowski went 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored. Eric Noland went 3-for-3 with a double, home run, four RBIs and two runs. Jacob Rhodes went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Clyde Gentry was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Cory Reynolds earned the win on the mound, improving to 3-3 on the season. He allowed just two earned runs in six innings, fanned three batters and walked none.
Elijah Jentzen followed up Reynold's performance with a masterpiece of his own on May 9 in a 2-0 victory against Taylor Truman. Jentzen pitched a complete game to improve to 3-1 on the season, and held Truman to just two hits.
Nolan was 2-for-3 with two runs and Kevin Osborn was 2-for-3.
Bigham said Jentzen, who he was expecting to play outfield prior to the season, has been a pleasant surprise.
"He's done a great job for us," Bigham said. "Every outing he's been really strong. Even the one he's lost, it was a complete game."
Ypsilanti now holds an 11-8 mark. Bigham praised his team for playing steady defense in the second half of the season.
"We're starting to play some good baseball," Bigham said. "Our pitching has been really good. Corey Reynolds has been really good for us."
Bigham didn't stop there.
"Justin Krakowski: he's been our most consistent defensive player at second base. Clyde Gentry has really become one of the best shortstops - in my opinion - in our league," he said. "Our outfield, which I thought through the first five games would be our biggest weakness, has really come along.
"Players are diving for baseballs, making plays, just playing sound defense. That's been the key."
That along with Rhodes and Noland - two Eastern Michigan bound players who play catcher and shortstop, respectively- continuing to secure the middle. Opponents will not even attempt to steal on Ypsilanti.
"As long as our pitching is holding runners, it's tough for teams to steal any bases on us," Bigham said. "Everyone kind of knows who Jacob is.
"Eric had always been able to make great plays, but now he's really worked on making the plays he supposed to make.
They've been doing what's expected of them."
With a 5-2 record in the Mega White, Bigham said this is a "big week for us," and his team will take on opponents in the likes of Gibraltar Carlson, Truman, Lincoln Park and Belleville.
But the big game is on May 21, when Ypsilanti will face Redford Union, a team, which shares a first-place tie with Bigham's team, and it will likely be a battle for the White Division.
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