Published: May 16, 2008 09:25 pm            

Rams win home finale against Carbondale

Finish 6-4 in South 7 conference

By PAUL WILCOXEN

paul.wilcoxen@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon Rams played their final regular season game at Brennan Klein Memorial Field Friday night and improved to 6-4 in the South 7 Conference with an 8-5 victory over visiting Carbondale in high school baseball action.

"We got our bats going and we were aggressive early," said Mt. Vernon skipper Tim Holloway. "We executed on several hit-and-runs.

"Later in the game, being aggressive maybe cost us a run or two, but we've been aggressive all year. We're not going to stop now. If we make mistakes we're going to be making them being aggressive."

It didn't take long for the Rams to take control of the game, after a run in the first and a five spot in the second sent Mt. Vernon to an early 6-0 lead.

"Being aggressive got us six runs in the first two innings," said Holloway.

Senior Klayton reached on an infield single and made his way around to score on a throwing error after Brian Sipe singled on a hit-and-run into left field.

In the second inning the Rams batted around. After a strike out to lead off the inning, senior Richard Taylor reached on an error by the shortstop, which opened the floodgates of five consecutive hits, which were responsible for five runs scoring in the inning.

After the error, Kit Grote and Ryan Quick each singled, followed by Mike Swinnen clearing the bases with a two-RBI triple in the left-center field gap.

Hahn drove in Swinnen and advanced to second on a balk by pitcher David Stine.

Hahn moved into scoring position, where he scored on Sipe's single into center field.

"We had a lot of guys hit the ball," Holloway said. "If you look back to the Centralia and Salem games, maybe the reason we didn't win both of those was timely hitting. We get on base, we get on second and third, we've got to start coming through. Maybe we'll do it at the right time."

The Terriers scored two runs in the top of the third to cut into Mt. Vernon's lead.

Graham Baker led off with a walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second by Sipe to Quick.

With two outs, Rams' starter Brent Daniels walked Tyler Bryant, as Carbondale reached the top of its order.

Kendall Toliver delivered an RBI triple into left-center to plate Bryant. Toliver later scored on a wild pitch.

"This seems to happen every game," Holloway said. "We look out there and it seems like they've got some really big, strong kids.

"They hit the ball hard. We sometimes forget that we've got a bunch of pups still. Fortunately they've been playing like seniors here."

The Rams got those runs back in the fourth to increase their lead to 8-2 when Josh Sears delivered a two-RBI double to score Hahn, who doubled, and Sipe, who walked.

Mt. Vernon did, however, strand nine runners on base, with eight of them in scoring position.

"We've seemed to do that all year," Holloway noted. "We've stolen 60 bases and only been thrown out six or seven times. When we get to second or third, some games we struggle to get them in.

"Hopefully that's going to turn around at the right time."

Daniels pitched into the sixth inning to improve his record to 4-1.

Carbondale scored three times in the sixth on four hits and an error. With two-outs, Baker hit a two-RBI double into center field to score Aaron Bushur and pinch-runner Anthony Anderson.

Baker came around to score on a double from Colton Parker, which led to the departure of Daniels, as Travis Carello came in relief of the Rams' starter and shut the door for his second save on the season.

"They hit the ball hard." said Holloway of Carbondale. "Brent's not going to overpower anybody, but he's been successful by being a pitcher and changing speeds and hitting spots. They put the ball in play against him all year, but he finds a way to win. It's like a nervous breakdown every inning. We were worried about them coming back, but we had some guys step up and get the job done."

Hahn was the Rams' leading hitter, as the senior was 3 for 3 in the regular season finale at home. Hahn also scored three runs and drove in one.

Sipe was 2 for 3 with a pair of singles, while Jesse Stuckey was 2 for 4.

Eight of the nine hitters for the Rams had at least one hit in the game.

Mt. Vernon (16-12 overall) will take on Highland in a double header today beginning at 11 a.m.

The Rams will host Centralia (who they split the season series with, 1-1) May 22 in a IHSA regional game at 4:30 p.m.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.