IMPRESSIVE!
Degerman Dominates Baylor; Owls Play Again Monday for Regional Championship
By Mark Anderson
The story of Sunday’s game against Baylor came down to two words: Eddie Degerman. “Steady Eddie” Degerman was simply outstanding today, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning (although not a “no-no”). Eddie kept the Owls off stride with his masterful mix of fastballs, curves, and occasional changeup. Using this assortment of pitches. Degerman baffled the Bears, striking out fourteen along the way while walking only two. While there were no radar gun readings readily available, Coach Graham said afterwards, “I believe that’s the hardest he’s thrown all year.”
Rice jumped on Baylor early as Tyler Henley smashed the first pitch of the game down the right side. Buchanan singled in Henley to give the Owls a quick 1-0 lead they would never relinquish. Friday moved Buchanan up to second, and Josh Rodriguez smashed the first pitch he saw down the left field line to score Buchanan. Joe Savery then singled to bring in Rodriguez to make it 3-0.
The Owls added another run in the second when Jordan Dodson singled up the middle, and Ford moved him to second on a bunt. Henley singled to drive in Dodson and give the Owls what looked like an insurmountable lead.
The reason the lead looked so insurmountable was Eddie Degerman. Degerman was perfect in the first three innings. With one out in the fourth, Fortenberry walked tro break up the perfect game. A wild pitch moved him to second, and eventually Dillion walked. Beamer Weems stepped to the plate and grounded back to Eddie, who met Weems and applied the tag down the first base line. A ground ball to the sure-handed Buchanan eluded him, and the first run for the Bears scored, albeit without a hit. The score at the end of four innings was 4-2, Owls.
Baylor finally broke up the no-hit bid as Jackson singled up the middle, and was advanced to second on a bunt. Bias singled to right, but the rocket arm of Jordan Dodson convinced the Bears to hold the runner. That set up the weird play of the day. Bias laid down a bunt. The throw to short got Bias, and Jackson decided to risk coming home. Hopefully this young man will take a risk management class, because in spite of a high throw, Lehmann, came down and applied a very difficult tag to Jackson to end the inning. That left the score at 4-1.
If there was any doubt about this game, the seventh inning erased all of them. With one out, Henley drew a walk. Buchanan reached on a fielder’s choice, but the shortstop fell down on the play and made an erratic throw from his backside, and Henley was safe at second. Friday singled to drive in Henley. Then the second weird play of the game happened. J-Rod was drilled in the helmet with the pitch, and went down, but had to show the ump the imprint of the baseball on his helmet to be awarded first. Savery’s fly to left scored Buchanan. Aaron Luna was then hit by another pitch, and Danny Lehmann walked, forcing in another run. Dodson’s hard liner to center ended it for the Owls, but they were in the driver’s seat by a score of 7-2.
Coach Graham handed the keys of the car to Cole St. Clair in the ninth inning, and he was also impressive, striking out the side.
The Owls play for the Regional championship this afternoon at 4 pm. Should Baylor win, they will play a one game, winner-take-all game. Should be a GREAT game. Hope to see you there! Get out of the office and come get a tan—and see the top-ranked team in the country to boot!
By Mark Anderson
The story of Sunday’s game against Baylor came down to two words: Eddie Degerman. “Steady Eddie” Degerman was simply outstanding today, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning (although not a “no-no”). Eddie kept the Owls off stride with his masterful mix of fastballs, curves, and occasional changeup. Using this assortment of pitches. Degerman baffled the Bears, striking out fourteen along the way while walking only two. While there were no radar gun readings readily available, Coach Graham said afterwards, “I believe that’s the hardest he’s thrown all year.”
Rice jumped on Baylor early as Tyler Henley smashed the first pitch of the game down the right side. Buchanan singled in Henley to give the Owls a quick 1-0 lead they would never relinquish. Friday moved Buchanan up to second, and Josh Rodriguez smashed the first pitch he saw down the left field line to score Buchanan. Joe Savery then singled to bring in Rodriguez to make it 3-0.
The Owls added another run in the second when Jordan Dodson singled up the middle, and Ford moved him to second on a bunt. Henley singled to drive in Dodson and give the Owls what looked like an insurmountable lead.
The reason the lead looked so insurmountable was Eddie Degerman. Degerman was perfect in the first three innings. With one out in the fourth, Fortenberry walked tro break up the perfect game. A wild pitch moved him to second, and eventually Dillion walked. Beamer Weems stepped to the plate and grounded back to Eddie, who met Weems and applied the tag down the first base line. A ground ball to the sure-handed Buchanan eluded him, and the first run for the Bears scored, albeit without a hit. The score at the end of four innings was 4-2, Owls.
Baylor finally broke up the no-hit bid as Jackson singled up the middle, and was advanced to second on a bunt. Bias singled to right, but the rocket arm of Jordan Dodson convinced the Bears to hold the runner. That set up the weird play of the day. Bias laid down a bunt. The throw to short got Bias, and Jackson decided to risk coming home. Hopefully this young man will take a risk management class, because in spite of a high throw, Lehmann, came down and applied a very difficult tag to Jackson to end the inning. That left the score at 4-1.
If there was any doubt about this game, the seventh inning erased all of them. With one out, Henley drew a walk. Buchanan reached on a fielder’s choice, but the shortstop fell down on the play and made an erratic throw from his backside, and Henley was safe at second. Friday singled to drive in Henley. Then the second weird play of the game happened. J-Rod was drilled in the helmet with the pitch, and went down, but had to show the ump the imprint of the baseball on his helmet to be awarded first. Savery’s fly to left scored Buchanan. Aaron Luna was then hit by another pitch, and Danny Lehmann walked, forcing in another run. Dodson’s hard liner to center ended it for the Owls, but they were in the driver’s seat by a score of 7-2.
Coach Graham handed the keys of the car to Cole St. Clair in the ninth inning, and he was also impressive, striking out the side.
The Owls play for the Regional championship this afternoon at 4 pm. Should Baylor win, they will play a one game, winner-take-all game. Should be a GREAT game. Hope to see you there! Get out of the office and come get a tan—and see the top-ranked team in the country to boot!
posted by my kid's sports pics at 10:56 AM
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