By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
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Enid coach James Peoples had a simple message for his pitchers before the Gladys Winters Memorial Baseball Tournament — throw strikes and give your defense a chance.
Plainsmen ace Mike Phillips followed that instruction in shutting down Southmoore 8-2 in first-day action Wednesday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
He scattered nine hits but walked only one. His defense played errorless ball behind him and turned two key double plays.
“That’s the name of the game in pitching,’’ Phillips said. “You got to throw strikes and trust your defense to make plays for you and that’s what we did today. You couldn’t ask for better defense than that.’’
Phillips’ twin brother, Joe, gave the Plainsmen all they needed with a three-run home run in the second.
The Plainsmen added four runs in the seventh, highlighted by Mikey Bretado’s solo home run, RBI doubles by Brock Enmeier and Brady Baugh and an RBI single by Seth Floyd.
“Joe’s home run was a good lift,’’ said Mike Phillips. “It gave us good momentum and made me strive to throw strikes. I knew our offense had the ability to do what they did.’’
Mike Phillips lost his shutout in the fifth on a walk and three consecutive singles, the last being a two-RBI hit by Neko Symonds. He got out of the jam on a nifty 3-6-3 double play, started by first baseman Erick Ramirez.
“Every time they threatened, we came up with a ground ball to get us out of the inning,’’ said Peoples. “Mike did a good job. Our defense did a good job.’’
Mike Phillips said he got some twin vibes from Joe, the Enid catcher.
“I love throwing to him,’’ he said. “He does a great job.’’
Joe Phillips’ homer was preceded by a walk to Brock Enmeier and a single by Baugh. Joe Phillips slammed an off-speed pitch over the right field fence for his second homer of the season.
“It wasn’t a very good pitch,’’ said Joe Phillips. “I just hit it and it just happened.’’
Bretado concluded the scoring in the second with an RBI double to score Joe Black, who had walked.
Bretado opened the seventh with a shot over the left field fence, his first of the season.
“It was an inside fastball,’’ Bretado said. “(Southmoore pitcher Chad Mullenberg) struck me out twice on inside fastballs. That one was my pitch. I got him back.’’
Bretado’s homer chased Mullenberg. Colter LeGrant greeted reliever Joel Black with a triple to left center. Floyd singled him home. Back-to-back one-out doubles by Enmeier and Baugh concluded the scoring.
The win broke a three-game Enid losing streak from last week’s Oklahoma-Alabama Challenge.
“This was a good confidence builder,’’ said Mike Phillips. “We didn’t do so hot in Alabama. Hopefully, we can keep this momentum going.’’
Enid (4-4) will face Yukon at 7 tonight. Bretado is scheduled to pitch.
