Balanced attack lifts Post 320

QUICK WORK: Stars use 14-hit attack to dispatch Titans
in opening game of Freedom Tournament

| Tuesday, July 01, 2008

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Joe Kavanaugh, Journal correspondent

RAPID CITY — It was a pretty simple recipe for a win, Post 320 head coach Jim Brandt said after his team’s 14-1 five-inning win over Sturgis at Pete Lien Field in the first game of the weekend Freedom Tournament.

“The kids hit the ball pretty good and in just the right spots, played good defense, and (Sean) Holloway did a good job of pitching, too,” Brandt said.

The Stars chalked up 14 runs on 14 hits off a trio of Titan pitchers. Eight of the nine hitters in the Post 320 batting order contributed hits, led by Nate Jacobson and Kyle Starkey who each finished with three hits. Zach Cimburek and Adam Carroll each chipped in with two hits, and catcher Chris Bingham made his lone hit count big time as he whacked a fourth-inning grand slam over the right-field fence.

“He threw me an inside fastball right where I like them and I hit it right on the sweet spot,” Bingham said.

For a couple of innings the game had the makings of a pitching duel between Post 320 starter Sean Holloway and Titan starter Casey Hanzlik. Both pitchers came out throwing strikes, depending mostly on breaking balls to keep hitters off-balance. Holloway worked a five pitch first inning, and Hanzlik fanned two in his half of the inning.

In the top of the second, leftfielder Alan McMillin socked a two out solo home run to give Sturgis a short-lived lead. However, in its half of the inning, the Stars quickly bounced back with singles by Adam Carroll and Reed Rice setting up an unearned run.

The semblance of a pitching duel ended quickly in the bottom of the third as Post 320 tallied five runs on five hits to jump out to a 6-1 lead.

However, the game was over when ...

In the bottom of the fourth inning as Post 320 scored eight runs, courtesy of six hits, Bingham’s grand slam provided the frosting on the cake.

Sean Holloway made sure not to waste the bat support, retiring nine in a row following the second inning home run and finished in style with a strikeout for the game — clinching the final out. In a complete game effort, Holloway allowed but the single run on two hits fanning three.

Friday’s MVP

Was, as Brandt mentioned, a well-balanced team effort in the field and at the plate. Everybody did their job and did it well.

On Deck

The three-team Freedom Tournament continues today with Sturgis and Post 320 (18-10 overall) meeting again at 1:30 p.m. Immediately follow that contest, Sturgis will meet Winner in a 4 p.m. game. The day’s action will conclude with Post 320 hosting Winner in a 6:30 p.m. contest.