LP’s Arett shuts down GEAC in playoff opener
Published 8:14 pm Wednesday, May 23, 2018
- Lyle-Pacelli’s Jayden Lewis hustles to throw to first on a grounder against Glenville-Emmons/Alden-Conger in a Section 1A West Tournament game Wednesday night at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The No. 3 Lyle-Pacelli baseball team stayed patient at the plate before it found its groove in a 10-0 win in six innings over No. 6 seeded Glenville-Emmons/Alden-Conger (2-14 overall) in a Section 1A West tournament opener in Marcusen Park Wednesday.
LP (9-7 overall) went hitless in the first three innings, but it pounded out 13 hits in the last three innings to take control. LP sophomore Tanner Murphy led the charge as he went three-for-four with three RBIs.
Murphy normally serves as LP’s catcher, but an injury has forced him to move into the DH spot in the lineup.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Jed Nelson dives back into first on a pick-off attempt against Glenville-Emmons/Alden-Conger in the Section 1A West Baseball Tournament Wednesday at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I just wanted to make every at bat count,” Murphy said. “I can’t do anything defensively to help the team with my arm being hurt, but any way I can help us out is good. It’s a little harder for me, because I get too focused on hitting and I can’t let my emotions out on the field. There are ups and downs.”
GEAC threatened to take the lead in the top of the third when it had had a runner on third, but LP senior Taylor Arett was able to force a ground out to escape the jam. Arett allowed just two hits and two walks to pick up the shutout and his pitch count was low enough where he will be available to throw Saturday, when LP plays BP at Riverland at 10 a.m.
“I walked a couple of people, but I just kept us in the game until we got the bats going,” Arett said. “We’re very excited for Saturday and we’re ready to get out there and see how it goes.”
LP head coach Brock Meyer said he wanted to make sure to go with Arett, who is one of just two seniors on the team, in an elimination game.
“In baseball you never know whether to start the number one or not,” Meyer said. “I knew we had to throw Taylor because I knew [GEAC] could play way better than they did against us before. They made plays and they stayed in it.”
The Athletics are now entering the double-elimination portion of the tournament and Meyer wants his team to play loose.
“We’re underdogs from here on out,” Meyer said. “We can go out there with no pressure and see what happens.”
GEAC 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 1
LP 0 0 0 4 2 4 — 10 13 0
LP pitching: Taylor Arett (W) 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 6 K
LP hitting: Cole Walter, 0-for-3, BB, SB; Zach Bollingberg, 1-for-4, 2 R, SB; Arett, 2-for-3, double, RBI, 2 R, BB; Cory Weber, 2-for-3, triple, 2 RBIs, R; Tanner Murphy, 3-for-4, 3 RBIs, 2 R, 3 SB; Bryce Strouf, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, SB; Trinity Anderson, 0-for-3, R, BB; Sam Nelson, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, SB, BB; Tyson Anderson, R
