By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
MORTONS GAP -- Scott Vance's Madisonville-North Hopkins baseball team displayed exactly why the Maroon group has the potential to claim its first regional crown in 30 years with a dominating performance Tuesday evening against Hopkins County Central.
One night after dropping a contest to Union County at home, North rebounded by controlling every phase of the game at Central's Storm Field in a 12-1, five-inning victory.
"The thing I was most pleased with was the way we bounced back mentally," Vance said. "As long as we approach every day in a good mental capacity, we're a pretty good ball team. When we don't, we can lose to any body."
The Maroons (10-3) scored in each of the game's five frames beginning with two in the first. Vance employed his characteristic aggressive style of play early against Central (3-4), including six stolen base attempts and one suicide squeeze in the first two innings of play.
Zach Baird successfully laid down the suicide to plate a charging Aaron Young from third base for a 3-0 lead. Young reached when he swiped an extra base on a liner to right, sliding head first into third for a triple.
Vance said after Monday's loss he did a little soul searching because he felt North had departed from its usual strategy.
"I said today, regardless of the situation, we're going to play aggressive baseball and we're going to try to manufacture runs and that seemed to work today," he said.
One night after dropping a contest to Union County at home, North rebounded by controlling every phase of the game at Central's Storm Field in a 12-1, five-inning victory.
"The thing I was most pleased with was the way we bounced back mentally," Vance said. "As long as we approach every day in a good mental capacity, we're a pretty good ball team. When we don't, we can lose to any body."
The Maroons (10-3) scored in each of the game's five frames beginning with two in the first. Vance employed his characteristic aggressive style of play early against Central (3-4), including six stolen base attempts and one suicide squeeze in the first two innings of play.
Zach Baird successfully laid down the suicide to plate a charging Aaron Young from third base for a 3-0 lead. Young reached when he swiped an extra base on a liner to right, sliding head first into third for a triple.
Vance said after Monday's loss he did a little soul searching because he felt North had departed from its usual strategy.
"I said today, regardless of the situation, we're going to play aggressive baseball and we're going to try to manufacture runs and that seemed to work today," he said.
North scored four more times in the third inning to lead 9-0. Baird, Young, Justin Lamb and Matt Levin each provided RBIs in the inning.
Meanwhile, the Storm struggled offensively to find a rhythm with the team's lone hits coming from Stephen Gordon and Austin Johnston.
Johnston ripped a long fly ball in the second for a double while Gordon knocked in Central's run with a two-out single in the third.
"Stephen Gordon stepped up tonight and he put it all together," Central coach Lee James said. "He knows what he's doing at the plate and it showed. Austin Johnston had the right approach. He came up and hits one off the fence in right center.
"For the guys that it's clicked with, they've got it and for the others we're going to try some different combinations and try some people in different batting orders and things like that until we find something that works."
Central's hitting did not face an easy opponent on Tuesday in North's No. 1 starter Ben Campbell. Campbell maintained mastery of his pitches despite frigid conditions. Campbell struck out nine and walked just one.
After the game, Campbell said he felt comfortable on the mound because of his confidence in his teammates.
"I was just out there trying to throw strikes," he said. "I knew our defense was behind me to make plays and I was just trying to pound the strike zone."
Maroon shortstop Hayden Marks made the defensive play of the game in the first inning when he ranged to his left. Marks sprinted toward second, dove for a ball, popped up and fired to first in ESPN "Web Gem" fashion to retire Stephen Gordon.
"I just saw the ball and did whatever I could to get to it," Marks said.
In the fifth, Marks hit a two-run single to provide North with enough runs to shorten the game to five innings.
Offensively, Marks, Campbell and Michael Huddleston each recorded multi-hit games.
North returns to Elmer Kelley Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday to host Heath while Central next plays at 5:30 p.m. Thursday hosting Todd County Central.
North (10-3) 234 12 -- 12 11 1
Central (3-4) 001 00 -- 1 2 2
WP: Ben Campbell. LP: Austin Johnston.
Meanwhile, the Storm struggled offensively to find a rhythm with the team's lone hits coming from Stephen Gordon and Austin Johnston.
Johnston ripped a long fly ball in the second for a double while Gordon knocked in Central's run with a two-out single in the third.
"Stephen Gordon stepped up tonight and he put it all together," Central coach Lee James said. "He knows what he's doing at the plate and it showed. Austin Johnston had the right approach. He came up and hits one off the fence in right center.
"For the guys that it's clicked with, they've got it and for the others we're going to try some different combinations and try some people in different batting orders and things like that until we find something that works."
Central's hitting did not face an easy opponent on Tuesday in North's No. 1 starter Ben Campbell. Campbell maintained mastery of his pitches despite frigid conditions. Campbell struck out nine and walked just one.
After the game, Campbell said he felt comfortable on the mound because of his confidence in his teammates.
"I was just out there trying to throw strikes," he said. "I knew our defense was behind me to make plays and I was just trying to pound the strike zone."
Maroon shortstop Hayden Marks made the defensive play of the game in the first inning when he ranged to his left. Marks sprinted toward second, dove for a ball, popped up and fired to first in ESPN "Web Gem" fashion to retire Stephen Gordon.
"I just saw the ball and did whatever I could to get to it," Marks said.
In the fifth, Marks hit a two-run single to provide North with enough runs to shorten the game to five innings.
Offensively, Marks, Campbell and Michael Huddleston each recorded multi-hit games.
North returns to Elmer Kelley Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday to host Heath while Central next plays at 5:30 p.m. Thursday hosting Todd County Central.
North (10-3) 234 12 -- 12 11 1
Central (3-4) 001 00 -- 1 2 2
WP: Ben Campbell. LP: Austin Johnston.
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