NMCC rolls past East Prairie

Friday, April 7, 2006
NMCC's Andy Gantner takes a swing at a pitch.

EAST PRAIRIE - The New Madrid County Central Eagles continued their offensive onslaught on Thursday afternoon at East Prairie, with a 9-0 shutout over the Eagles.

Solid work by starting pitcher Andy Gantner of NMCC and timely hitting up and down the lineup, were a combination of success for NMCC.

Gantner pitched a complete game shutout and NMCC combined for 10 hits to dispatch East Prairie.

"First of the year we spent so much time inside," said NMCC head coach John Jones, "we put up the pitching machine and just wore the bats out. We started at 250 swings a player and it has paid off now."

NMCC scored the first run of the game in the top of the second on a RBI single by Colt Pruitt. Landon Lingle scored the run for NMCC after he induced a walk with one out in the inning.

NMCC scored a second run in the top of the third with an unearned run. Gantner doubled for NMCC with one out. After a groundout put Gantner on third, cleanup hitter Dylan Harris hit a wicked grounder to the third baseman.

The liner was picked by the East Prairie third baseman, but the throw to first was off line and Gantner scored putting NMCC up 2-0 after three innings of play.

East Prairie helped out NMCC again in the fourth, as Woody Smelser reached first base with one out, on an error by the East Prairie shortstop.

Smelser stole second and Pruitt walked with one out.

With two outs, leadoff batter Jordan Kimball drilled a double and scored two runs for NMCC.

Next up, Gantner drove in Kimball with an RBI single. NMCC scored three runs with two outs and led 5-0 after four innings.

Through four innings, East Prairie had only a single off Gantner.

"Seems like we made crucial errors in situations were they had guys on," said East Prairie head coach Gary Scott.

"We just opened the door for them. We never could hit the ball to get back into the game."

NMCC tallied a single run in the top of the fifth on a Smelser RBI single. Harris scored the run after starting the inning off with a single.

NMCC increased the lead to 6-0 after five.

East Prairie starter Zach Secoy did an adequate job on the mound going five innings, gave up seven hits, six runs and walked two.

NMCC put the contest to rest in the top of sixth by scoring three runs off East Prairie reliever Tyler Branam.

Kimball started the rally in the sixth by getting hit by pitch with one out. Gantner, Kyle Marshall and Harris singled to drive in Kimball.

Trey Sullenger hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Marshall. After six innings, NMCC led 9-0 and coasted to the victory.

Gantner got the complete game shutout for NMCC giving up only five hits, struckout six and walked only one East Prairie hitter.

"Had a nice pitching performance today," said Jones. "Andy came in and shut them out. Threw a heck of a ballgame, kept them off balance."

Gantner not only did it on the mound, he was solid at the plate going 3-for-4 with a RBI. Marshall and Harris had two hits apiece for NMCC.

Kimball led NMCC with 2 RBIs.

"I am just so pleased with the kids going into spring break at 4-1 and will give them some time off," said Jones.

"Once we get two or three runs, our confidence goes up. We have lively bats and we are a pretty good ballclub when we are clicking."

For East Prairie, Secoy and William O'Guin each went 2-3 and Branam had the other hit for the Eagles.

"We only had a couple of solid hits out there today," said East Prairie head coach Gary Scott.

"We just didn't swing the bats very well."

NMCC (4-1) will have a week off for spring break and will be back in action April 17 at Kennett.

East Prairie (3-3) travels to Delta on Monday at 4 p.m.

NMCC 9, East Prairie 0

NMCC0113130-9101
East Prairie0000000-052

WP - Andy Gantner

LP - Zach Secoy

2B - Gantner (N), Kimball (N)

Multiple hitters - NMCC: Gantner 3-4, Kyle Marshall 2-5, Dylan Harris 2-4. East Prairie: Zach Secoy 2-3, William O'Guin 2-3.

Records - NMCC 4-1, East Prairie 3-3.

The Chaffee Red Devils won a rain shortened game on the road at Scott County Central, 8-1 on Thursday afternoon.

Chris Hanback and Steven Dooley drove in two runs apiece for the Red Devils. Josh Steger went 2-for-4 for Chaffee.

Hanback picked up the win going four innings, allowed three hits, walked four and struckout six.

Chaffee (3-5) travels to Advance today for a game at 4 p.m.

Chaffee 8, Scott Central 1

Chaffee04040-872
Scott Central00010-132

WP - Chris Hanback

LP - Mark Freed

2B - Josh Steger (C)

Multiple hitters - Chaffee: Josh Steger 2-4.

Records - Chaffee 3-5.

East Prairie is now 6-0 with 14-3 win over New Madrid. Lydia Thomure pitched 6 innings striking out seven allowing eight hits and walked none.

Jade Marcum went 3-4 with a double, triple and 8 RBIs. Marcum also scored one run. Thomure went 2-4 with one double and 2 RBIs and 4 runs. Talia Thurman went 2-3 with 3 runs.

Megan Britt 2-3 with 2 RBIs. Katherine Maynard 1-3 with one run. Kim Sprinkles 1-2 with 2 runs. Cynthia Cook added a run for East Prairie.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: