The Ravenswood Red Devils traveled to Poca High School Monday at 1:00 p.m., April 9th, 2007 for a game against The Dots.
The crowd was loud and raucous but always classy, ( my nephew Seth King who was doing the music for The Dots sure did his part yelling for Poca). The adrenaline was really flowing in The Red and White team on this day. The Poca "Dirty" Dots were ready to play on this day.
One of the problems at Ravenswood was their lack of hitting. But you can see the good hitting coach Kyle Jones has done as even their stance looked a lot better. The Dots out hit The Red Devils 11 - 6.
Poca's pitching coach, Mark Atkins, has done a fine job also. Coach P. E. McClanahan's coaching staff looks great.
Ian Humphrey was on today as Ravenswood is a fine hitting team. Humphrey scattered six hits in the shutout and fought his way out of a bases loaded innings twice including the 6th when there was a bases loaded with no outs. He struck out the second batter after the leadoff batter flew out to Mike Laughlin in right field.
Last out was Eric Cheeto Duran at third to first for the 9 - 0 shutout. The defense sure played well behind him also as in the 2nd inning it looked like Ravenswood would surely score with the bases loaded with no outs. But Ian struck out the Red Devil batter for the first out, then Junior 2nd baseman Josh Smalley speared a ball and flipped it to senior shortstop David Yates who stepped on 2nd for the 2nd out and threw a strike to freshman 1st baseman David Beaver to finish off the double play and get out of the inning with a shutout. Ian's control also was very good as he gave up only two walks as Ravenswood gave up four walks and had six errors (Poca had one error).
The Dots were fired up and came out strong with five runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. Senior shortstop David Yates led off with a walk. Then junior pitcher Ian Humphrey helped his own cause with a hit. Junior 2nd baseman Josh Smalley drove in Yates with a hit. Then senior catcher Kevin Dixon drove in a run (Jonathan Tinney was running for Ian. Tinney scored and stole a base) with a hit . Senior centerfielder Cory Rueckert drove in Josh Smalley. Rueckert scored off a hit by freshman David Beaver when the throw from the outfield hit the Ravenswood pitcher hard in the knee knocking him out of the game. Poca led 5 - 0 after one inning of play.
The Dots added two more runs in the second inning. Designated Hitter Matt McClanahan got on with a walk as the second batter. Then David Yates walked. Third baseman Eric "Cheeto" Duran sacrificed the runner to 2nd with a beautiful bunt and Yates scored. Humphrey helped his own cause again as he drove in a run ( McClanahan ) with a hit. Thus a Poca 7 - 0 lead after only two innings of play. The Dots capped the scoring with two runs in the 4th inning . DH Matt McClanahan led off with a walk. Then David Yates got on with a beautiful bunt he just barely beat out. Duran followed with a hit. Humphrey doubled in two runs (McClanahan and Yates). Poca led 9 - 0. (The Dots should have won it earlier as Duran scored but was called out on a bad call.) But umpires are only human.
Junior Ian Humphrey had 6 strikeouts including one in every inning except the 7th. Being the pitcher of record there is not much more he could have done for his self as he was 4 of 4 hitting the ball with a double and drove in 3 runs. Senior shortstop David Yates got on base three times and scored three times. Freshman first baseman David Beaver was 2-of-3 batting the ball and scored. Freshman DH Matt McClanahan was 1-for-1 batting the ball and walked two times and scored two times. Senior catcher Kevin Dixon and senior centerfielder Cory Rueckert and junior 2nd baseman Josh Smalley all had a hit and drove in a run. Senior 3rd baseman Eric Cheeto Duran had a hit also. Senior rightfielder Mike Laughlin walked and junior Jonathan Tinney running for Ian scored in the first inning.
The last three outs were: 1st out - fly out to sophomore leftfielder Roman Gibson 2nd out 3rd baseman Eric "Cheeto" Duran to 1st baseman freshman David Beaver. 3rd out - Fly out to Cory Rueckert in centerfield.
Thanks to the voice of the baseball Dots Richie Eads for all your help.
The Red Devils were sent back to Jackson County skunked 9 - 0.
Hits Errors Walks
Ravenswood Red Devils 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 6 6 4
Poca Dots 5 2 0 2 0 0 X - 9 11 1 2
