Squirrels sweep

Charleston's Dustin Brister slides safely into third base as New Madrid County's Ross Carter drops the incoming throw on Monday evening at Hillhouse Park in Charleston. The Squirrels won both games of the doubleheader.
(Photo by Brent Shipman, Staff)

sd_sports@yahoo.com

CHARLESTON -- Charleston improved to 17-12 on the summer season as the Fighting Squirrels swept Monday evening's doubleheader with New Madrid County's Senior Babe Ruth Team.

In their first contest, Charleston took an early lead and kept on building as it rolled to a 12-1 decision after five innings on the ten-run mercy rule.

The Squirrels would score in every inning, including a game-high five runs in the fourth, combining for seven hits on the contest.

All the while, Charleston's starting pitcher James Naile would keep New Madrid County's offense at bay, pitching four scoreless innings before allowing a single run in the fifth.

In both the first and second innings Naile was able to get out of bases loaded situations without surrendering a run.

"He struggled there that first inning," Squirrels coach Matt Bucher said. "Walked two guys and the third batter got a single so all of the sudden you have no outs and the bases loaded."

"So then you really have to refocus and concentrate on the smaller things when you're up there on the mound and that's what he did and he did it very well."

Monday's second contest provided a little more drama as New Madrid County had came back to tie the game 5-5 after allowing the Squirrels to erase an early 3-0 deficit.

Charleston would break out for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and easily withstand a two-run New Madrid County rally in the seventh to win 10-7.

"It's the same problem all year is we can't throw strikes," New Madrid County coach Kevin Lyons said. "We'll have a couple of good innings, but then we'll walk ourselves in to trouble just about every time we play.

"We had that one and we just blew it. Just couldn't throw strikes."

Leading Charleston in hits were Zach Rowland, Jesse Schott and Josh Overbey who all had two apiece.

Eric Holloway and Derek Holloway led New Madrid County in hits with both collecting two.

With the Squirrels barely out-hitting New Madrid County with nine hits to eight, the difference turned to be walks as Charleston only walked four compared to New Madrid County walking ten.

New Madrid County's (3-10) next match-up will come today when they host the Chaffee Red Devils at 6 p.m.

Charleston will take three days off before hosting Festus Friday at 6 p.m.

WP -- James Naile. WP -- Collin Ivie. Multiple hitters -- (N) Brandon Bennett 2-3; (C) Brandon Peters 2-3, James Naile 2-2. 2B -- (C) Naile.

WP -- Jeff Long. LP -- Derek Holloway. Multiple hitters -- (N) Eric Holloway 2-4, Derek Holloway 2-3; (C) Zach Rowland 2-2, Jesse Schott 2-2, Josh Overbey 2-4. 2B -- (N) Eric Holloway 2; (C) Dustin Brister, Rowland, Brandon Peters, Schott 2.