Schara’s bat lifts Hounds over Blue Sox
Published 9:37 pm Saturday, July 13, 2013
The Austin Blue Sox Luke Anderson puts the tag down on Greyhounds runner John Frein on a stolen base attempt in the top of the third inning Saturday at Marcusen Park.
Zach Schara is mostly known for his pitching ability when he plays for the Austin Greyhounds, but it was his bat that did the talking as the Hounds beat the Austin Blue Sox 9-6 in Marcusen Park Saturday night.
Schara was 3-for-4 with a double and five RBIs as he vaulted the offense for the Hounds (10-4 overall).
The Greyhounds’ Jeremy Williams jumps back to the bag as Blue Sox first baseman Brady Klingfus waits of the ball on a pick-off attempt Saturday at Marcusen Park.
“I think I just got a few pitches to hit,” Schara said. “I haven’t had much chances to hit the ball this year and I came out swinging hard.”
Schara blasted a three-run double to right-center in the fourth to put the Hounds on the board and he knocked in two more runs with a single to left in the fifth.
The Hounds led 9-0 going into the bottom of the seventh when the Blue Sox (7-8 overall) received a lift from one of their longtime veterans. Brandon Rector, who graduated from Austin High School in 1997, hadn’t put one over the fence since he played for the Packers, but he had a power surge in the seventh when he blasted a solo homer over the left field fence to make it 9-1.
“I was just trying to put a good swing on the ball and I connected,” Rector said. “I had been hitting the ball that way a couple of times. (Josh) Kunze said I couldn’t hit one out and I guess I showed him I could.”
After Rector’s blast, the Blue Sox came alive in the eighth as Nate Wilson singled in two runs and Mark Harber had a two-run double to make it 9-6.
“We didn’t give up,” Rector said. “We showed that we’re a good ball team and we can play.”
Nels Nelson picked up the win for the Hounds as he struck out 10 in seven innings.
Schara was glad the Hounds could hang on to beat the Blue Sox.
“The in town rivalry is always great,” he said. “I know a lot of guys on the other team and I coached a couple of them. It’s fun to get out and play with them.”
Hounds 0 0 0 4 3 0 2 0 0 – 9 11 6
Blue Sox 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 – 6 10 0
Hounds pitching: Nels Nelson (W), 7 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 10 K, 2 HBP; Alex Kasak, 2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP
Hounds hitting: Nate Johnson, 0-for-2, HBP; John Frein, 2-for-6; Dave Adams, 1-for-4, R, HBP, BB; Matt Raso, 1-for-5, 2 R, HBP; Jeremy Williams, 1-for-4, 2 R, SB, 2 BBs; Tyler Leopold, 2-for-2, double, R, SB, 2 BBs; Zach Schara, 3-for-4, double, 5 RBIs, R, BB; Joe Huffman, 0-for-2, RBI; Joe Kroc, 1-for-2, RBI, SB; Zach Huntley, 0-for-2, RBI, BB; Bryan Toov, 0-for-2, BB
The Greyhounds’ Nels Nelson delivers in the second inning against the Austin Blue Sox Saturday at Marucsen Park.
Blue Sox pitching: Jamie Adams (L) 4 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 ER, 2 HBP; Jamey Pratt, 5 IP, 6 H, 5 BB, 5 ER, 3 HBP
Blue Sox hitting: Brandon Rector, 1-for-6, HR, RBI, 2 R; Adams, 2-for-4, R, SB; Nate Wilson, 2-for-5, 2 RBIs, R; Mark Harber, 1-for-3, double, 2 RBIs, R, HBP, BB; DJ Taylor, 1-for-4, double, HBP; Carter Guthmiller, 0-for-3; Lukas Anderson, 1-for-3; Brady Klingfus, 0-for-4, BB; Preston Higbe, 0-for-1, BB; Pratt, 1-for-2, R, HBP; Josh Kunze, 1-for-2, RBI; TJ Parlin, 0-for-2
