Pioneers prey on FalconsBaseball team rolls in first ?06 scrimmage
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The Pioneers. playing at home at Patrick Ramsey Field, came out of top with a 11-3 victory over the Falcons.
Warren County out-hit the Falcons 17-7, and five pitchers saw action for the Pioneers. Colby Killian worked the first two innings, facing six batters and sitting them down in order. Derrin Rogers went the next two innings giving up four hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Josh Mullens saw action in the fifth and sixth, with two walks and five K?s. Coty Grissom gave up three hits and one walk in the seventh and eighth, and Tyler Gilley worked the ninth, shutting down the Falcons in order.
?I though it was a real good outing,? Holt said. ?There were a lot of positives, considering this was our first scrimmage. We came out swinging the bat and our pitchers challenged their hitters.
?Defensively we looked pretty good, and that was a big positive. We had a few mental mistakes ? such as hitting the cut-off man on throws from the outfield ? and that?s something we have to correct. But overall, the kids looked sharp and aggressive and I was very pleased.?
The Pioneers sent three runs across the plate in the bottom of the first, when Jacob Bratcher doubled with one out. Jordan Underhill reached on an error and Killian hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Bratcher. Jordan Powers drew a walk and Clint Newman reached on an error, which scored two runs for a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the third Lincoln County scored two runs after a leadoff double by Josh Saucier. A walk and two more hits pulled the Falcons within one at 3-2. But Warren County answered in the bottom of the inning, when Powers reached on an error with one out. Newman singled to right field and Coty Grissom doubled, scoring two runs. Nick Cantrell walked and a single to right-center by Josh Bratcher put Warren County out in front 6-2.
Warren County scored two more in the bottom of the fifth after Cantrell, Mullican and Josh Bratcher reached with singles. Jacob Bratcher hit into a fielders choice scoring Cantrell and Underhill picked up an RBI on a single for a 8-2 Pioneer lead.
Warren County nailed things down in the bottom of the seventh, with three runs crossing the plate off of a Underhill home run. Casey Talbert led things off with a single and Mullican beat out a bunt. Underhill connected with two outs, driving a shot over the left-field fence for a 11-2 lead.
The Falcons added one run in the top of the eighth off of two hits, a walk and an error. Newman doubled for the Pioneers in the bottom of the inning, but was left stranded.
Tyler Gilley came in and pitched the top of the ninth putting the Falcons down in order and securing the Pioneer victory.
Josh Bratcher, Clint Newman and Kyle Mullican collected three hits each. Underhill and Grissom had two each, Jacob Bratcher, Killian, Cantrell and Talbert added one hit apiece.
The Pioneers were scheduled to travel to Red Bank today for another preseason matchup. The regular season begins March 13, at home against Stratford.