Third Time is Still a Charm Against the Zips

Coach Cougan was very worried about MBC's first round draw in the State Tournamnet.  We drew the Zips, a team we had already beaten twice, and one that had seen MBC's starting pitcher both times.

It is always hard to beats someone three times, and the baseball gods sometimes intervene.  It sure looked that way through five innings until the magic of the three game day kicked in and MBC rolled to victory.

Stuart Fairchild was as good as ever but suffered from the worst luck giving up one in the second, one in the fourth and two in the fifth.  A combination of swinging bunts, duckfart hits and line drives that just eluded MBC gloves combined to give the Zips a 4-0 lead.

The Zips pitcher was holding his own against the big bats of Magnolia for five innings. Tino Peleti blasted a two out double in the first and Zip outfielders raced down deep drives from Quinn Burcham, Nick Salle and Nick Safka and Tino's next blast before MBC could catch a break.

The break happened in the fifth.  Tai Huff led off and battled the Zip pitcher for what seemed like a fifteen pitch at bat.  Tai fouled off pitch after pitch until the Zip pitcher finally walked him.  Jack Murphy bunted him to second. Tai moved to third on Dylan Vchulek's single.The speedy Dylan stole second.  Smelling blood in the water Nick Salle ripped a double down the right field line to cut the lead in half.  The Zip pitcher had seen enough of Tino and walked him.  As has been said MANY times before BAD MOVE!  Stuart Fairchild made them pay with a single and the hot Nick Reeves then doubled to tie the game.

The sixth started with a walk to David Becker and a single from last inning's hero Tai Huff. A single by Nick Safka loaded the bases.  Dylan walked to bring in the tying run and Nick Salle hit a sac fly for insurance.  Not done yet, Tino singled for a run and Stuart's big double made it a five run cushion.