Consistent, quality-starting pitching over the course of the season is paramount. With that said, there’s always an exception to the rule.
Case in point: Mason Siebert tossed three scoreless innings against Bartlesville, Okla., before things began to fall apart in the fifth inning. With the potential tying run at the plate, coach James Kinder brought in Josh Collins with two runners in scoring position and nobody out in the top of the fifth.
While the Merchants, at times, have had problems when turning the game over to the bullpen, there was no such issue Thursday. The bottom line: Kinder needed somebody to throw strikes, and Collins was up to the challenge.
Collins helped Carthage emerge victorious over Bartlesville, as the Merchants ran away with a 13-4 Pool B victory of the Pryor (Okla.) Tigers Summer Classic at Vinita, Okla., High School.
“Mason did a good job for three or four innings,” said Kinder, Carthage head coach. “But Josh comes in, throws strikes and gets several ground balls.”
The Merchants, winners of four in a row and seven of their last 10, are now a season-high nine games over .500 with a 17-8 record. Carthage will continue pool play at 5:30 p.m. today against Claremore Sequoyah, followed by Vinita at 8 p.m. Sequoyah replaces Muskogee, Okla., which dropped out of the tournament.
Dalton Cossey hit a solo home run in the second and Caleb Fierro collected two hits to lead the Merchants’ 14-hit attack.
Fierro, who hit his second grand slam of the season on Wednesday against East Newton, came through with a double in the first inning, scoring Levi Snyder and Stephen Poston. The Merchants staked Siebert to a five-run lead after scoring one run in the second and two more times in the third against starter Colton Lacey.
Cossey, the leadoff hitter, connected for his first home run of the season in the second, and Siebert drove in both runs in the fourth with a bloop single to left-center field.
But Siebert, despite battling in and out of trouble for three innings, struggled to throw strikes consistently, allowing two runs in the fourth. Siebert began the fourth by walking successive batters, who moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Kinder summoned Collins to face Kyle Regan and try to get out of the jam.
It worked.
Collins filled up the strike zone, promptly recording two outs. And although two runs crossed the plate, the Merchants still had a one-run lead with Brian Poston due up in the bottom of the fifth.
In the fifth, Brian Poston, hustling all the way, led off with a double and Tadd Wagner followed with single. “A hustle double is my favorite part of baseball,” said Kinder.
Collins singled in the Merchants’ sixth run and Wagner came around to score when Trey Shigley bobbled the ball in left. Zack Babcock, running for Collins, scored on errant throw.
“We can score and score,” explained Kinder, “but pitching and defense will always get us over the hump.”
The Merchants ended the game by run-rule after scoring five times in the sixth. Cossey, who finished with three hits and 3 RBIs, was a double shy of the cycle. The Merchants had five players finish with two hits and one RBI.
Farm Report
The Carthage Merchants Junior Legion squad, after falling 4-0 to Cassville on Wednesday, came away with a 21-1 victory over Aurora Thursday evening. The Merchants are 8-6 overall this season and 2-2 in district play.
Check your calendar
The Carthage Merchants announced Thursday a pair of schedule changes. The Merchants’ home game against Baxter Springs, Kan., slated for Tuesday, June 30, has been moved to Monday, July 6. Now, the Merchants will face Monett at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, instead.
