MONDAY, April 17, 2023
YATES CENTER HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
MORAN – The Yates Center High School baseball team nearly staged a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the nightcap of a varsity doubleheader against Marmaton Valley here Thursday.
But the impressive rally came up two runs short, and as a result the Mustangs completed a sweep of the varsity twinbill. Marmaton Valley survived 14-12 in the wild second game, after posting an 11-1 victory in the opener.
"Overall we are definitely improving,” said Yates Center head coach Jarrod McVey, “and we will continue to work hard every day to get better."
The Wildcats are scheduled to return to their home diamond for a pair of doubleheaders Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
On Wednesday, Yates Center will host a make-up date with Southeast-Cherokee. The two teams only played one inning back on April 10 before severe weather forced a halt in play. The teams will resume play in the second inning of Game 1, with Southeast leading 2-0.
On Thursday, the Wildcats will host Eureka.
YC vs. Marmaton Valley
Last Thursday, Yates Center couldn’t get anything going in the first game, as Marmaton Valley jumped out 4-0 after one inning and went on to win 11-1.
The Wildcat’s lone run came in the top of the second inning as William Stackhouse doubled to center and later scored on an error. Yates Center, limited to just three hits in the contest, also got singles from Jacob Meigs and Ken Brown.
"Jacob (Meigs) came in and pitched well in relief,” McVey said. “I thought we just couldn't get anything going offensively to help him out."
Meigs pitched 2.2 innings in relief of starter Tristin Ballin, allowing just one earned run and one hit.
Things looked bleak in the nightcap as well, despite the fact Yates Center plated three runs in the top of the first. The Mustangs responded by scoring 11 in the bottom of the frame.
But instead of rolling over, YCHS battled back, scoring two runs in the second and six in the third to knot the score 11-11. Unfortunately, Marmaton Valley regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After the teams traded runs in the fifth, the Mustang pitchers blanked Yates Center over the final two frames to post the 14-12 victory.
"We started hot early, but then dug ourselves too big a hole,” McVey noted. “We struggled at times in that first inning to make routine plays, and that mixed with a couple walks and a couple hits led to the big inning for Marmaton Valley.
"But I was extremely proud of the team for battling back to tie the game," he added. “Pitching wise we are getting better, I thought Emmett Brittain did a pretty good job in four innings of work and Jayston Rice was outstanding on the mound in relief.”
Rice ripped three hits in the nightcap for Yates Center. Ballin and Emmit George notched two apiece while Meigs, Canon Cavender and Kage Beck added one hit each. George, Meigs and Cavender all had two RBI. Meigs and Beck plated two runs apiece in a losing cause.