By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle
ENID —
The good news for Enid’s baseball team Monday is the Plainsmen were able to schedule a game against Woodward as a warmup for Wednesday’s regional tournament.
The bad news was the game resembled dodge ball more than baseball.
Plainsmen pitchers hit six batters and walked five more. The Boomers didn’t do too badly on their own with 11 hits in taking a 10-6 decision from the Plainsmen, who will take a 17-14 record into the playoffs.
Enid used six different pitchers against the Boomers to get ready for Wednesday’s first-round game against Midwest City at 4 p.m. at Owasso.
“We did get some kids some innings,’’ said Enid coach James Peoples. “No one could get in a rhythm and throw strikes. The tempo starts on the mound. We didn’t throw strikes and take care of business on the mound.
“That’s what usually happens when you walk that many people. When that happens, you’re not going to beat too many people.’’
Woodward’s Eric Luthi had three hits, scored two runs and had a two-RBI single to highlight a six-run third inning. Two runs scored on bases-loaded walks.
Braden Todd had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs on two doubles. Casey Covalt and Eric Persons also had two RBI for the Boomers. Persons’ two-RBI single in the seventh gave Woodward a 10-6 lead after Enid cut the lead to 8-6 with three runs in the sixth.
Jake Gilreath had two hits, including an RBI single in the third and scored a run. Only one Woodward starter failed to reach base.
The Plainsmen had eight hits off four Woodward pitchers. Seth Floyd had two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth.
Dylan Walker and Joe Phillips had RBI singles in the sixth when Enid scored three runs to cut the lead to 8-6. Kaleb Hulva scored on a wild pitch.
Erick Ramirez gave Enid a 2-1 lead in the first when he singled in Brady Baugh and Joe Black, who had reached on a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Black doubled in the fifth and scored on Floyd’s single.
“We wanted to win, but we did get some things taken care of,’’ Peoples said. “We got some innings in, but it’s not a positive thing when you don’t throw strikes.’’
The Plainsmen have beaten Midwest City in two of the previous three meetings. The winner should get Owasso at 4 p.m. Thursday. The loser plays an elimination game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“We can’t worry about Owasso right now,’’ Peoples said. “We have to take it one game at a time. We have to take care of Midwest City to see Owasso the next day.’’
All the playoff games can be heard on KCRC Radio (1390 AM).
