NOC Enid splits as bats quiet in nightcap

Sports

Related Photos

NOC Enid Jets' Keaton Webb connects with a pitch during the home opening double-header against Cloud County at David Allen Memorial Ballpark Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

Discussion

February 10, 2013

NOC Enid splits as bats quiet in nightcap

By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle The Enid News and Eagle Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:09 AM CST

ENID, Okla. — The boys of summer felt the chill of winter during Northern Oklahoma College Enid’s opening baseball doubleheader of the season Saturday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

But while the games were played in winter-like conditions (42 degrees with a 20 mile-per-hour wind), the old baseball clichés were as warm as a windless 100-degree Fourth-of-July doubleheader.

The Jets took advantage of five walks and a two-RBI double and a two-RBI single by Chase Knott in scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the opener, 8-5.

The visiting T-Birds were unable to take advantage of nine walks and two hit batsmen in leaving 14 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the second, third and sixth innings.

Cloud County’s Zach Demars and Aaric Woodyard combined for a three-hitter in shutting the Jets out in the nightcap, 2-0. Demars struck out two and walked seven in six innings, while reliever Woodyard had two strikeouts in a retiring NOC Enid in order.

“We did OK for two games,’’ said Jets coach Raydon Leaton. “They got a good ballclub over there. We’ll get after it again tomorrow (1 p.m. today at David Allen Memorial Ballpark).

The Jets, 1-1, freshman Matt Kennewell in the opener and Enid redshirt sophomore Christian Lafontan in the nightcap.

NOC Enid’s Zach Bradford and Austin Hilton combined for 10 strikeouts — six by Bradford over four innings and four by Hilton over three in the second game, but it wasn’t good enough to overcome a lack of hitting.

The Jets only got one runner to third — designated hitter Rowdy Dove, who was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second when T-Birds shortstop Woodyard overthrew second on a force play.

NOC Enid left four runners on second.

Bradford and Hilton issued only one walk.

“They deserved better,’’ Leaton said. “When you throw strikes, it gives you a chance to win the game. You know we’re going to play good defense.’’

Cloud Center scored in the first when Chase Reiberspiers tripled and scored on a single by Jesse Rall. Rall doubled in the fourth and scored on a single by Woodyard.

“It was a well-played game, but they played better than we did,’’ Leaton said. “They got guys in scoring position and got them in. We got guys in scoring position and we couldn’t get the big hit. It’s just one of those things.’’

In the opener, Jets starter Hayden James left in the third after issuing seven walks. He walked the first three batters in the third, all of whom scored which gave the T-Birds a 4-1 lead.

Reliever John Chidester bent but didn’t break to keep the Jets in the game. He gave up five hits and hit two batters over three and two-thirds innings, but struck out five.

He got out of bases-loaded jams in the third and sixth and left two runners on in the fourth and fifth.

The Jets cut the lead to 4-3 with two runs in the third with Shattuck’s Aaron McCandless doubling home Ross Colger, who had reached on an error and Knott, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

The lead stood up until the sixth when the T-Birds bullpen couldn’t find the plate.

Brendan Hardaway departed after walking the bases load. Keaton Webb grounded out to bring in Korbin Polston with the tying run. Dyce Applegate was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Turner doubled off Tyler Keller to score A.J. Wilson and Kyle Callahan with the go-ahead runs. Colger was intentionally walked to set up a force, but Knott spoiled that strategy with a two-RBI single.

“We were able to get to their bullpen and get some big hits,’’ Leaton said. “We had lot of guys come through for us.’’

Closer Kevin Royer allowed a run in the seventh, thanks to an walk and an error. However, he struck out Jason Cain and Rall to end the game.

NOC Enid had opened the scoring in the first when Knott doubled and scored when McCandless reached on an error.

Text Only

Sports

Aggies give D-II series a state flavor
A tip of the hat to Murray State College for winning the Plains District tournament this weekend to assure there will be an Oklahoma team in the upcoming NJCAA Division II World Series at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
The Aggies, who were 5-0 against Northern Oklahoma College Enid this season, beat MCC-Longview 14-7 in the district championship game to take a 41-21 record into the tournament.
They are a team that should be easy for Enid fans to adopt as their own.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo
NJCAA Division II World Series Schedule
May 19, 2013
OU advances in softball
Top-ranked Oklahoma is headed to the NCAA Super Regionals after run-ruling Arkansas 14-1 in a regional softball final at Marita Hynes Field Sunday.
The Sooners (50-4) will host former Big 12 rival Texas A&M, now of the Southeastern Conference next weekend in a best two out-of-three series with the winner advancing to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo
Majors-Minors twinbill rained out
April showers, bring may flowers.
May showers cancel a lot of baseball games.
Sunday’s scheduled doubleheader between the Enid Majors and Enid Minors was postponed for wet grounds from Saturday’s thunderstorms.
“The field was flooded,’’ Majors coach Chris Jensen said.

May 19, 2013
Sooners No. 4 seed after beating K-State
May 19, 2013
Radio-TV for 5-20-13
May 19, 2013
Hennessey's Aguirre taking tough times in stride
Car Aguirre looks strange confined to a wheelchair.
The story of how the newly-minted Hennessey grad got there is told loosely through a digital jigsaw puzzle — an accident, a near-tragedy, an outpouring of support, a recovery, all expressed in Facebook posts and internet traffic.

May 18, 2013 2 Photos
Enid’s Harmon 4th at endorser
Top-seeded Tyler Harmon, playing with an elbow injury, had a rough day at the 16-Under Oklahoma District Tennis Association Endorser Tournament Saturday at Oakwood Country Club.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
Ex-Majors make return to Enid for Alumni exhibition
Saturday was a time for Matt Peck and his former Enid American Legion teammates to set back the clock.

May 18, 2013
Jets reflect on tough season
Raydon Leaton’s ambition was to be the host team for the NJCAA Division II College World Series, which opens next weekend at David Allen Memorial Stadium.
Instead, Leaton’s Northern Oklahoma College Enid Jets went through some growing pains during a 17-39 season.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

NOC Enid splits as bats quiet in nightcap

Site Map

Contact Us