By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle
ENID —
There were two thoughts of fans leaving Enid’s 9-2 loss to Centennial Conference rival Stillwater at David Allen Memorial Ballpark Monday.
1. Why couldn’t it have rained Monday instead of Sunday night?
2. Fans were frustrated about missing a classic NCAA men’s championship game (Duke 61, Butler 59) for a very unclassic high school baseball game.
The Plainsmen (8-8 overall and 2-1 in conference) committed seven errors on the night. Stillwater committed four miscues.
Enid had two runners thrown out. Stillwater stole four bases and scored another run on a wild pitch.
To make matters worse, Enid shortstop Seth Floyd and catcher Joe Phillips left the game with hand injuries that wouldn’t allow them to grip a baseball.
“We have to shake this one off and get them at their place tomorrow,’’ said a disappointed Plainsmen coach James Peoples. “It would have been hard for us to beat the Bad News Bears the way we kicked the ball around tonight.’’
Floyd and Phillips will be evaluated today. Both players’ status, Peoples said, is day-to-day.
“We’ll just see how they are tomorrow,’’ Peoples said.
Oklahoma State signee Griffith Roark compounded Enid’s problems by going 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two-run homer in the fourth. He had an RBI triple in the seventh.
“He swung the bat well,’’ Peoples said. “We just have to play better baseball tomorrow.’’
Frank Arena reached base on all four of his at-bats, including a two-RBI single in the first. He stole home on the front end of a double steal in the first.
Dalton Downing scored twice for the Pioneers and had a double in the third. He scored on a wild pitch in the second.
Enid managed only five hits. Erick Ramirez had a one-out double in the second and scored on a double by Miguel Bretado.
The Plainsmen scored their other run in the seventh. Cedric Rose walked with two out. Courtesy runner Hayden Houska scored after Brady Baugh reached on an error and Colter LeGrant doubled.
The Plainsmen, while getting only five hits, had runners on base in every inning except the fourth.
Mike Phillips took the loss for the Plainsmen.
Christian Lafontan will go against the Pioneers at Stillwater tonight. Stillwater is 4-0 in Centennial Conference play.
“Christian needs to throw strikes to give us a chance,’’ Peoples said. “Hopefully, the defense will show up.’’
