Jimmy Ivey
Weatherford Democrat
Fri, May 16 2008
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GRAHAM — The Millsap Bulldogs baseball team wasted little time Friday night in establishing momentum for their bi-district series against the Olney Cubs, as the Bulldogs rattled off two quick runs on three hits in the top of the first inning on their way to a 7-4 Game 1 victory at Graham High School Stadium.
The game was not without drama, as the Bulldogs had to stave off a late run by the Cubs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Cubs had every opportunity to get the momentum back after scoring two runs with no outs to get back to within three. The Bulldogs got two quick outs to first baseman Kyle Benton, but the third out was not going to be as simple. With runners at first and second base, Bulldogs reliever Zeb Littlefield threw three straight balls before Coach Littlefield elected to put Olney’s Justin Guthrie intentionally to load the bases and create a force-out situation at any bag.
However, the strategy appeared to be on the verge of backfiring when the younger Littlefield threw three more balls. Coach Littlefield called for time and went out to the mound. The result was three straight strikes, including strike three right down the breadbasket to end the game.
“I just told him that he could do it – that was it,” said Millsap head baseball coach Brad Littlefield. “He just did it on his own.”
Senior Tanner Riggs had a big hand in the victory, both at the plate and on the mound. In six innings of work, Riggs threw no-hit baseball, allowing only two runs on five walks. Two other Olney base-runners got aboard with fielding errors by the Bulldogs.
Aside from the walks, Riggs was near untouchable, striking out 14 Olney batters, five of which looked strike three into the glove of Bulldogs catcher Lucas DePriest. Riggs recorded two strikeouts in all six innings he pitched.
“Early on Tanner [Riggs] did a great job, but then he struggled to throw strikes, but he pitched a great game,” Coach Littlefield said. “It is good to get a lead in the series.”
Riggs also had a big night at the plate, going 3-of-4 with a double and a triple, scoring two runs and batting in two more runs, including the first hit of the game on the fourth pitch of the game.
“[Getting the first hit and the early lead] helped, it helped out a lot,” Riggs said. “It helped out with runs. It helped me feel better about myself, got everybody going.
“Anytime you get the jump on someone 1-0 in a series, you have a pretty good shot of winning the whole series. We had 15 hits tonight and that has got guys pumped up, wanting to play [Saturday].”
Landon Meeker also went 3-of-4, scored one runs and batted three more runs home. As a team, the Bulldogs recorded a season-high 15 hits.
The Bulldogs also got help from the bottom half of the lineup in the top of the fourth, as Aaron Evans, Zeb Littlefield and DePreist recorded back-to-back-to-back singles. Evans scored on DePriest’s single to center field, while Littlefield and DePriest were brought home on Riggs’ triple of the left field wall.
The Bulldogs dropped game two to Olney, 11-4, Saturday. At press time, the third and deciding game was in progress. Millsap is the home team in the rubber match.
Millsap 7, Olney 4 (Game one)
Millsap 200 302 0 — 7 15 4
Olney 000 110 2 — 4 1 1
Riggs, Evans (7), Littlefield (7) and DePriest. Pullman, Barrientes (6) and Guthrie. W — Riggs. L — Pullman. 2b: (MIL) Riggs, Benton. 3b: (MIL) Riggs. SB: (MIL) Riggs, Evans, Littlefield; (OLN) Pittman (2), Guthrie. CS: (MIL) Aaron, Earnest; (OLN) Barrientes, Cope.
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