Trojans get revenge on E-Prophetstown

MHS earns 8-2 win in regional semis

staff
Posted 5/25/17

MENDOTA – Erie-Prophetstown knew it could beat Mendota, having done so in the Putnam County Wooden Bat Tournament in April. But when the post season rolls around, it’s a whole different ball game.

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Trojans get revenge on E-Prophetstown

MHS earns 8-2 win in regional semis

Posted

MENDOTA – Erie-Prophetstown knew it could beat Mendota, having done so in the Putnam County Wooden Bat Tournament in April. But when the post season rolls around, it’s a whole different ball game.

The Trojans took control early in the contest and were never seriously threatened as they posted an 8-2 triumph over the Prophets in the semifinal round of the Mendota Class 2A Regional Baseball Tournament on May 18 at the MHS field.

The Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as leadoff batter Sam Becker started the inning with a perfectly placed bunt single. He advanced to third on a pair of passed balls and then scored on a wild pitch. Bryson Prusator drew a walk and raced home on a double to deep left field off the bat of Paxton Kennedy.

Mendota added another tally in the second, again sparked by Becker. He coaxed a one-out walk and Cruz Figueroa was hit by a pitch. They each moved up a base on a wild pitch and Becker scampered home on a ground out by Prusator.

The Trojans increased their lead with a four-run fourth, and yet again, Becker got things started. He was plunked by an Owen Behrens offering to start the inning and Figueroa sacrificed him to second. Prusator laced a single up the middle to drive in Becker and Kennedy followed with a single to left. Mendota’s third straight single came off the bat of Ben Bokus to drive in Prusator with the second run of the inning.

One out later, with runners at second and third, Bryar Lindenmeyer delivered a clutch two-run single to left to plate two more runs and increase Mendota’s lead to 7-0.

Bokus, who got the start for the Trojans, shut out Erie-Prophetstown on just two hits through five innings before control problems cropped up in the sixth. After Bokus retired the first two batters in the inning, he walked three straight to load the bases. Jake Nurnberg came on in relief, but he couldn’t find the plate either and issued two straight walks to force in two runs.

Prusator was called to the hill to try to put out the fire, and he induced a grounder to short in which Nurnberg made a nifty play to glove the ball and then throw off-balance to first to get the final out of the frame.

Mendota added an insurance run in the sixth when Prusator led off with a single and eventually came around to score on a single by Bokus.

E-P’s Jordan Pierceson reached on an error to start the top of the seventh, but Prusator mowed down the next three hitters to secure the victory.

Bokus earned the win, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing two hits and two runs. He walked six and struck out nine.

Mendota collected nine hits off of two Prophet pitchers, led by Kennedy with two singles and a double. Prusator and Bokus each singled twice.