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Royals come from behind to take 8-6 win over crosstown rival St. Patrick
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By MATT MONTAVON Sports Writer
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Mason County overcame a rough first inning to post an 8-6 victory over St. Patrick on Tuesday at Mason County High School.
The Saints, who dropped two previous games to the Royals this season, took advantage of three Mason County errors, a hit batsman and a balk to post four runs in the top of the first inning, more than they had in the first two meetings combined. Chris Owens brought home the first run on an infield single deep in the hole between shortstop and third base while fellow senior Nick Anderson followed with an RBI single to left. Two more runs crossed due to the error and the balk.
After falling behind early, the Royals stayed error free the rest of the game while putting up eight unanswered runs over the first five innings. The Royals hit the ball well with eight hits during the stretch but put even more pressure on the young Saints fielders with aggressive baserunning and took advantage of five St. Patrick errors.
"We got off to a good start," said St. Patrick coach Mallory Denham. "But we made a few errors and a few mental mistakes and that was the difference in the game. You have to hand it to (Mason County coach Mike) Murphy's kids, though. They made the plays when they had to and got the job done."
Mason County senior Richie Cox , who hurt St. Patrick on the basepaths with two hits, two walks, four stolen bases and four runs scored, started the scoring for his team in the bottom of the first when he walked, stole second and third and came home on an error. The Royals added another run in the second on a Lee Sutton infield hit and two more in the third when Cox had an RBI single and eventually scored on another error.
With the score knotted at four, Mason County took the lead for good in the fourth inning when Cory Woods doubled, then scored on a flare to right field by Ryne King. Cox doubled home King and eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 7-4 lead.
Mason County added some insurance in the fifth when Sutton came home as part of a double steal, and would need it to hold off a St. Patrick comeback attempt. The Saints added a run in the sixth when Jacob McKay singled and came home on a ground out, and another in the seventh when Anderson stroked a double deep into the left field corner.
"Nick stepped up and had a big hit for us," Denham said of the senior who also worked 2 1/3 innings in relief of McKay, allowing one unearned run. "Of course the seniors have been doing it all year long."
Anderson's double brought the tying run to the plate, but sophomore left-hander Keagen Burney, who worked the final inning in relief of Royals starter Corey Walker, was able to get McKay to fly out to left to end the game.
Though disappointed with the loss, Denham was pleased with the effort of his team, which had several young players starting due to injuries.
"We started two eighth graders and two freshmen and they did a nice job," said Denham. "They didn't quit and they haven't quit all year. We've been playing right with everybody all year long, we just can't seem to beat them."
Both teams are back in action on the road today as Mason County (9-16) travels to Bishop Brossart and St. Patrick (1-13) goes to Fleming County.
St. Patrick 400 001 1 -- 6 10 6
Mason County 112 310 x -- 8 9 3
WP: Walker. LP: McKay. Save: Burney. Hitting leaders: SP (Anderson 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Owens 3-3, RBI; Clarke 2-4), MC (Cox 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 4 SB; King 2-4, RBI, 2 R; Sutton 2-3, RBI). Records: St. Patrick 1-13, Mason County 9-16. |
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