Still On the Bus Vs Maroa-Forsyth

On Saturday the Tigers faced a challenge- Not so much the Maroa-Forsyth Trojans...but just finding the baseball diamond!

This coach believes the hosting, home team should make the visitors aware that the game will be played at an off site. For the second time in the young season we haven't been notified of the field we are to play on. As the coach I would like to apologize to family who spent the time driving the hour plus to the Decatur area in search of our game.
It should be noted that the opposing coach did nothing to help us. Spending an extra 30 minutes on the bus searching for the diamond was frustrating. And the game that proceeded continued with the same frustration.

Weather: Exceptional sunshine
Starting Pitcher- Michael Thompson
Relief- Kyle Ross, Salman Khan

Even though we didn't have much time to warm-up, the Tigers got off to a great start. Mike Thompson sparkled through the first 3 innings, striking out 6 while only giving up two hits keeping the Trojans off the score board. The offense was working as well. Plating 7 runs in the first four innings for a 7-0 lead.
Then it seemed we couldn't get a called strike or had any luck in the field. Committing 2 errors and walking 3 in the bottom of the fourth put Maroa-Forsyth back into he game.
Our struggles continued in the field as we committed 4 more errors in the remaining innings, by the time we got out of 6th the Trojans had scored 13 runs. Questionable calls in the field, and the continued lack of experience of our young team has to learn to close out winnable games. Pleased with a small comeback that just wasn't enough finishing the game in a loss 13-10.

Coaches Comments:
As we know hind site is always 20/20. With a 7 run lead early in the game I made defensive changes that could have waited at least another inning. I am always looking for ways to give all players the much needed experience. As frustrating it is for our players to go through the growing pains of making mistakes. Those are valuable learning moments that will hopefully help later in the season. I want players to have confidence when they get a chance to play and have teammates learn to help out each other when one or more are going through a rough inning. These changes didn't help us win this game, and I learned that some need a little more practice and need to be better prepared to succeed.

Highlights:
We had our season high of 14 hits including 4 extra base hits. We know this team can put points on the board! The heart of our order had a great day at the plate. Sophomore Salman Khan and freshman Brian Summers and Michael Thompson combined for 10 hits and scored 7 of our 10 runs.
Batting in the 3 spot in the order. Khan went 3 for 5. After reaching on an error and scoring in the first, he added singles in the third, fourth, and seventh innings. His three base hits went to all three outfield spots. He scored four runs.
Clean-up hitter Brian Summers went 3 for 4 with a walk and an RBI. Two singles, and a double to lead off the sixth inning. Brian scored 2 runs for the Tigers.
In the 5 spot Michael Thompson reached base all five times he came to the plate. Going 4 for 4 with a walk, Thompson had three singles and double and scored 2 runs.

Jared Broom and Chris Lenear helped the team when they both hit doubles. Broom's was his first career hit and his first 2 RBI's of the season. Congrats Jared!
Third baseman Curtis Clark added 2 more RBI's when he hit a single with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.

Up Next for the Tigers will be a full week. Five games are scheduled this week and looking at the weather forecast I think we will be playing all!
Let's keep the bats hot when we travel to Centennial in the freshman contest on Monday!
@ Monticello on Wednesday, and back home for Villa Grove on Thursday and finish up the week at home for a double header against MacArthur on Saturday! Lets but together some wins this week Tigers!

Special Thanks to parents for traveling- And helping with directions to Maroa-Forsyth.
Picture Day is this Tuesday April 13th! Players were given order forms last week- Full Dress Uniforms needed!