Friday
Mar 29/24
8:56 am
PST

Cleveland First Church of the Nazarene
NEWS ITEM
BallCharts.com/clevelandfirstnaz

Admin

Attendance:


Cleveland
TN
USA







<< back to news

Posted Apr 19/11 - Nazarenes Overpower Baptists

Runs were hard to come by in the season opening victory for Cleveland First Nazarene on monday night.

 

That was not the case on Tuesday.

 

First Naz (2-0) pounded out 25 hits on tuesday, including three homers, as they run-ruled Pleasant Grove Baptist (0-2) 18-8.

 

"The bats were on fire tonight," manager Tim Shay remarked after the game. "We came out hittin and didn't stop all night."

 

First Naz trailed 5-3 going to the bottom of the second inning, when the power display shifted into high gear. Rodney Chatman (1), Tyler Hogan (1), and Wallace Foster (1) each belted a homer in the inning - a frame which would see Cleveland First plate seven runs.

 

"To be honest, I thought the last two homers were a bit of bad luck for us," Shay said. "Usually when you hit your three homers and only get five runs from them it makes things difficult on you later in the ballgame, but the guys made some nice adjustments and we got the job done."

 

The turning point in the contest came in the top of the fourth inning. Pleasant Grove scored three times in the inning to pull within four, however, twice in the frame, Baptist runners were cut down at the plate on a pair of baserunning blunders. The first saw Pleasant Grove with two runners at third base as Wallace Foster came up with the ball at short. The lead runner took off for the plate, and was thrown out by a wide margin. The second happened when the Baptist catcher laced a triple to right field, and tried to take home on the play when the ball went past Shay to the backstop. Shay was able to retrieve the ball and make a diving play to record the second out of the inning.

 

"That's why fundamentals are so important," explained the Nazarenes' player-coach. "Two key mistakes allowed us to keep two runs off the board. It's the little things that will come back to bite you in games like this."

 

Josh Hindman (2-0) earned the victory, but had to pitch his was out of a two-out bases loaded jam in the fifth, recording the third out on a called third strike.

 

The Middle of the Nazarenes' lineup was devastating at the plate. Blake Jordan, Hogan, Foster, Billy Massingale, and Hindman each recorded at least three hits, as the quintet combined to post an 18-for-21 night at the plate, scoring 13 runs and driving in 14. Shay (1) and Chatman (2) also had RBI in the game.

 

Next up for First Naz is a date with South Cleveland Church of God (2-0). Game time is slated for Monday night at 7:30.





 


Lineup Cards, Dugout Charts, Pitching Charts, Free Team Pages, Free League Pages
Powered by BallCharts.com - free team & league websites