Marion baseball team scratched by Panthers
Eric Clark
Sports Editor
To err is human, but to err five times in one game is down-right heartbreaking.
Add to that a second game filled with six more errors, and you've got an overwhelming theme echoing in the loss column for the Marion baseball team. A team which now is 0-4 with two losses to Wichita Independent Friday afternoon, 4-2 and 8-7.
On top of the error-laden afternoon, head coach Sean Spoonts watched his team struggle to make plays and to get consistency at the plate.
"Too many errors cost us the ball game," Spoonts said. "Also, we were inconsistent with our hitting. Our last five hitters went 0-15, our first four went 5-11. I wasn't as disappointed with the losses as I was with the hitting.
"You just don't give your team a chance to win, when you strike out. The difference between being 3-1 and 4-0 right now is six runs."
Game 1: Wichita Independent 4, Marion 2 - With Mitch Enos on the mound, the Warriors watched as the Panthers of Wichita Independent threw three quick runs on the board in the first three innings of play, and added one more in the bottom of the fifth.
Independent's ace pitcher struck out 12 batters and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning until the Warriors began what appeared to be a rally as Clayton Chamberland reached first base on a base-on-balls situation. Tyler Richmond connected on an off-speed pitch for a single, which put Richmond and Chamberland in scoring position.
Senior Jason Matz made good of the situation and helped score Chamberland on a single and later scored himself to cut the lead to two after the sixth inning.
But the late-game rally was squelched as the Warriors saw their last three batters strike out to end the game in the seventh inning.
Matz was 2-for-3 including an RBI in game one. Richmond also went 2-for-3.
"Jason Matz and Tyler Richmond tore the cover off of the ball," Spoonts said, "Mitch played well but he has done better. When you give up one earned run, you should walk away with a victory."
Enos struck out seven batters and gave up four hits and four runs.
Game 2: Wichita Independent 8, Marion 7 - Leading 7-3 in the sixth inning, the Warriors relinquished their lead, making three errors that paid huge dividends for the Panthers. Independent capitalized on the three errors and score five runs to take the 8-7 victory.
The Warriors and Panthers traded runs in the first inning, both tabbing two.
In the second inning, Independent took the lead adding a run, but in the third, Marion added two more to take a 4-3 advantage.
The Warriors added three more runs over the course of the next two innings, but surrendered the errors in the sixth to fall to the Panthers.
"Same story, new ball game," Spoonts said of game two. "Up 7-3 in the sixth. Three errors cost us five runs and the ball game. We need to find a way to produce at the bottom of the lineup. Coach Robson and I have come to a conclusion that we need more individual time to work on fundamentals hitting with the players who are having problems."
Enos finished 2-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored, while Matz finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.
In his first work on the mound this season, Clayton Chamberland surrendered eight runs and gave up seven hits. Jimmy Shipman came in late in relief of Chamberland and gave up one hit and no runs.
The Warriors traveled to Council Grove Tuesday to do battle with the Braves.
Marion hosts Salina Sacred Heart next Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
bottom of the lineup. Coach Robson and I have come to a conclusion that we need more individual time to work on fundamentals hitting with the players who are having problems."
Enos finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Matz finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.
In his first work on the mound this season, Clayton Chamberland surrendered eight runs and gave up seven hits. Jimmy Shipman came in late in relief of Chamberland and gave up one hit and no runs.
The Warriors traveled to Council Grove Tuesday to do battle with the Braves.
Marion hosts Salina Sacred Heart next Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
