PLEASANT HOPE - It was a battle of the Pirates on Monday night as Macks Creek and Pleasant Hope met on the diamond for both teams first games of pool play in the Wheatland Tournament. It was Pleasant Hope that emerged with a 20-0 win in three innings over Macks Creek.
Although they were playing on the road Macks Creek was the home team after winning the coin flip. Pleasant Hope wasted no time in putting up five runs in the first. They scored seven more in the second and then eight in the third to create the final score.
Grant English (2-1) started and took the loss. He worked the first inning, surrendering five unearned runs on four hits while striking out two. Austin Brown worked two-thirds of an inning and allowed seven runs, two earned, on two hits while striking out one and walking three. Isaiah Schmidt relieved and worked two-thirds of an inning, allowing eight unearned runs on six hits while walking two batters and hitting two more. Keith Edelman worked the final two-thirds of an inning.
Offensively, Macks Creek was held hitless. Grant English walked twice and Ethan English reached on a fielder's choice.
"We struggled a bit in all facets tonight. Defensively we kicked it a little too much and offensively we were held silent at the plate," commented Macks Creek Head Coach Jason Trusty.
"I told my boys that tomorrow is another day and another chance to work on making ourselves better."
Macks Creek falls to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in pool play. They are back in action against Walnut Grove for game two of the tournament before a day off on Wednesday. On Thursday they will face Lakeland. Both remaining pool games start at 6:30.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
1 2 3 R H E
PH 5 7 8 20 11 0
MC 0 0 0 0 0 9