Union romps Stringer in playoff opener
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
April 18, 2003
UNION Led by Jody Blount's two-hitter, Union opened its Class 1A baseball series with Stringer with a 10-0, five-inning win over the Red Devils Thursday night at Laird Park.
Blount (5-2) allowed two singles and one walk, while striking out nine. He also fielded three comebackers as the Yellowjackets improved to 18-11.
Stringer had only one runner reach second base as the Red Devils dropped to 13-7.
With Blount keeping Stringer off the scoreboard, Jacob Casey and Jordan Robinson handled the offense as they combined for five of Union's nine hits.
Casey went 3-for-4, and Robinson went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Robinson filled in behind the plate for his older brother, Zack, who was lost for the remainder of the season Saturday with a knee injury suffered against Morton.
Union put up six runs in the second inning to take control of the contest. Robinson opened the frame with a triple to right field. He scored on Danny Cain's single.
After losing pitcher Matt McHan retired the next two batters, Brooks Vance reached on a bad hop single past shortstop Dylan Wagner. Sean Ferrell drew a walk to load the bases.
Blount's fly ball to right field went for a three-base error on Jay Bolivar that cleared the sacks and upped Union's lead from 2-0 to 5-0. Blount then trotted home on a wild pitch for a 6-0 advantage.
Union picked up two more runs in the fourth as Casey led off with a single and Blount drew a walk off reliever Josh Anderson.
Robinson lined a two-out, two-run single to put the Jackets up 8-0.
Union brought the run rule into play in the bottom of the fifth. Jess Brantley walked and Brooks Vance reached on a fielder's choice to put two runners on base.
Brantley scored on a single by Casey and Vance ended the game when he scored on a one-out single by Ferrell.
Bolivar and Chanse Yelverton both had a single to account for Stringer's only hits. Yelverton also walked to complete the Red Devils' base runners.
The Jackets go for the sweep tonight at 6 p.m. at Stringer.
