HARTVILLE - Macks Creek opened pool play of the Conway Fall Classic on Thursday night with a double-header against the Hartville Eagles and the Dora Falcons.
Game 1 featured Macks Creek falling to Hartville 20-2 in three innings.
In the top of the first the Pirates plated their only two runs of the game. Grant English singled, Keith Edelman was hit-by-a-pitch, and Trever Smith walked to load the bases. A ground ball to short off the bat of Tanner Smith was misplayed and allowed all runners to advance and Grant to score. Ethan English then collected an RBI on a walk to push the early Pirate lead to 2-0. A pitching change and three strikeouts ended the threat with and left the bases loaded.
Hartville plated 11 runs in their half of the first for a lead they would not relinquish. They plated nine runs in the second to help create the final score.
Ethan English (0-1) made his first career Varsity start and took the loss. He worked one-third of an inning, allowing six runs on three hits while walking three. Olivier Sanchez worked two-thirds of an inning and was touched for 12 runs, nine earned, on seven hits while walking two, hitting three, and striking out one. Kyler Gabriel made his Varsity pitching debut and worked an inning. He allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits to go along with one strikeout.
Offensively the Pirates collected a single hit in the contest off the bat of Grant English. He also scored a run and walked. Keith Edelman and Hunter Harris were hit-by-pitches. Trever Smith walked and Tanner Smith reached on an error.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
1 2 3 R H E
MC 2 0 0 2 1 2
HART. 11 9 X 20 12 1
Game 2 saw the Pirates taking on the Dora Falcons. At the end of the game it was the Falcons that came away with a 6-2 victory.
After Macks Creek went quietly in the top of the first Dora collected their first run, utilizing two Pirate errors and a single to jump to a 1-0 lead after one.
Macks Creek tied it in the second. Tanner Smith was hit-by-a-pitch, moved to second on a balk, to third on a ground out to the pitcher off the bat of Ethan English, and then scored when Austin Brown's pop-up to second was dropped. Brown would move to second when Tyler Newcomb walked and a walk by Dakota Willis would load the bases. A strikeout ended the Pirate threat with the score tied at one.
The Pirates would take a 2-1 lead in the third. With one out Trever Smith doubled to the corner in left and moved to third on a ground out by Tanner Smith to short. Courtesy runner Olivier Sanchez would then cross the plate on a balk call. Macks Creek would not have another runner reach third in the contest.
Dora plated two in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead. They would plate a single run in the fourth and then two more in the fifth. The Falcons utilized six errors and five hits to do their damage.
Ethan English singled for his first career Varsity hit with two outs in the third but remained stranded. In the fourth Macks Creek put runners at first and second but were unable to score. Tyler Newcomb drew a one-out walk and Grant English walked with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning. Newcomb also collected his first career Varsity hit in the sixth when he singled up the middle.
Grant English (0-2) started and worked all six innings. He was touched for six runs, only one earned, on seven hits while striking out nine and walking one.
Offensively Trever Smith doubled while Ethan English and Tyler Newcomb each singled to round out the hits for the Pirates. Newcomb also walked twice in the game. Grant English walked, Tanner Smith was hit-by-a-pitch, and Dakota Willis walked. Austin Brown reached base on an error.
"I thought we did alright with these two games today," said Macks Creek Coach Jason Trusty, "we are still working to make adjustments on the offensive and defensive side of things but we were able to put some runs on the board today, something that we haven't been able to do much of this Fall."
"Each game continues to allow us to gain experience and continue to learn from the situations that come up."
The Pirates fall to 0-8 with the losses. They will play either Conway, Stoutland, or Weaubleau on Saturday for the fifth place game of the tournament.
VARSITY BOX SCORE - GAME 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
MC 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 8
DORA 1 0 2 1 2 0 X 6 7 1