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Richmond-Burton continues hot streak
Updated: May 16, 2011 9:39PM
HAMPSHIRE — A Hampshire team struggling to score runs started out Monday’s Big Northern East contest against Richmond-Burton like the slump might be finished.
However, the Whip-Purs found finishing what they started to be a difficult proposition against red-hot Rockets pitcher Evan Trapino, and the Rockets came away with a 6-3 victory that secured them no worse than a tie for the division crown.
“We’ve been struggling at the plate,” Hampshire coach Steve Ream said. “We hit the ball a little bit this game.”
They managed five hits over the first three innings against the left-handed Trapino (7-2), who had struck out 31 total batters against Marengo and North Boone in his previous two outings.
However, after the third inning, Trapino ruled and the Rockets’ defense backed him. Hampshire didn’t get a hit after the third. After pulling within 4-3 with an RBI double by Nick Holze — his second double of the game — the Whip-Purs had only a couple of base runners on walks.
“We had only one run the last two games so three runs is not really going to get it done, either,” Ream said. “But we were hitting the ball a little bit. If we can carry that over to the next few weeks, I think we’ll be ready for regionals.”
Trapino struck out six and walked four. Hampshire left five runners on base against him the first three innings. Afterward, neither he nor the Rockets seemed too excited about winning no worse than a tie for the division. They can clinch it outright with a win today over Marengo.
“We are really happy about it, actually,” he said. “Our whole team had a goal to win 20 games, which was today, and also to win the conference.
“We’re looking forward to the regionals, trying to go as far as we can.” Richmond-Burton’s record is 20-6, 8-1 in the conference.
Hampshire’s offense didn’t benefit from the absence of its second best hitter, catcher Tyler Crater. He suffered a sprained ankle Friday. Ream is hopeful he’ll be ready for next week’s regional.
The Whip-Purs (12-12, 5-4) used the game to bring up pitcher Brandon Wescher (0-2) from the sophomore team for his second varsity start.
“We were a little short on arms,” Ream said. “That’s a tough team and he did a good job except just that one inning.”
That was the second. R-B scored three runs, aided by an error and also a wild pitch on a squeeze bunt that scored a run. Casey Williams and Travis Jewell drove in runs for R-B that inning with singles. In the third, after Hampshire got within 3-2 in the bottom of the second, the Rockets got an RBI ground out from Donald Stupienski to score C.J. Daniels, who had singled, stolen second and moved to third on a ground out. The lead hit 5-2 in the fourth with an unearned run that came in on Evan Giacomo’s RBI single.
Wescher gave up three earned runs and six hits while striking out three and walking two in five innings. The final R-B run in the seventh on Stupienski’s RBI double, came against reliever Sean O’Shea.
“This past weekend we didn’t play well at all and I know that left a bad taste in our mouths,” R-B coach Mike Giese said. “First of all, our pitching been phenomenal all year and I think it started with that. E.J. pitched a good game.”
Hampshire (12-12, 5-4) had an RBI single by Luke Wians and another run on an error in the second, then Holze’s third-inning RBI double that drove in Zachary Skog, who’d singled. That was it as far as hitting, though.
“The big thing is coming up with the big hit with men on base consistently,” Ream said.
Hampshire has a rescheduled game with St. Edward today.
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