Keizertimes., April 30, 2021, Page 26, Image 26

PAGE A26, KEIZERTIMES, APRIL 30, 2021
McNary gets run-ruled after gaining early lead
McNary pitcher Logan Ready fires to the dish.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
After defeating defending league
champion South Salem two days prior the
McNary baseball squad sputtered in their
following matchup against West Salem.
Despite gaining a four-run advantage in
the first inning the Titans scored 15 of the
next 16 runs and defeated the Celtics 16-5
on Wednesday, April 21.
“It is pretty simple, we gave away too
many free bases — by the pitching staff and
the defense. When you mix in a pitching
staff that is having trouble finding the zone
and a West Salem team that is such a good
hitting club, it’s going to be trouble. They
made us pay for all the free bases,” McNary
head coach Larry Keeker said.
McNary pitcher Logan Ready retired the
side with ease in the top of the first, throw-
ing just seven pitches. In the bottom half
of the frame, with a runner on first and one
out, Celtics outfielder Trevor Thompson hit
a ground ball to second, which appeared to
be a tailor-made double play. But the ball
trickled into the outfield after the second
baseman booted the ball, keeping the
Celtics threat alive.
“They gave us a gift and we took advan-
tage,” Keeker said.
Hayden Kaiser got the Celtics on the
board with a Texas League single down
the left field line. Aaron Nease followed by
scorching an RBI-double to left field. The
next batter, Griffen Hubbard, hit an oppo-
site-field single to left field that scored two
runs and extended McNary's lead to 4-0.
However, in the top of the second, the
wheels began to come off for McNary due
to errors and missed opportunities.
After Ready issued a free pass to start
the frame, the next batter hit a sharp ground
ball to McNary third baseman Trevor
Ratliff for a double play opportunity. Ratliff
fielded the ball cleanly but struggled to get
the ball out of his mitt, and the Celtics only
got the force out at second.
An error by second baseman Eben
Mayer gave the Titans runners on first and
second with one out. Mayer caught a hard-
hit line drive on the next at-bat and had a
chance to double the runner off of first, but
a bad throw got by Carter Hawley at first
base and the runners were able to tag up
and advance.
Two batters later, John Kenny hit a soft
liner into left center field that fell for a two-
run single.
“The disappointing part was that we put
up that four-spot, and then literally gifted
them two runs with poor defensive play the
next inning. It took the momentum com-
pletely away,” Keeker said.
Things went from bad to worse in the
top of the third for the Celtics as West
Salem put up a six-spot in the frame thanks
to a trio of free passes and a three-run triple
by Kenny, putting West Salem on top 8-4.
“Our entire pitching staff needs to work
on getting command of their pitches and
be able to hit spots,” Keeker said. “It was
a terrible game for us, but sometimes you
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