Hannibal-LaGrange University

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2010 Trojan World Series Game 3 Recap

BB Drops D to Push Blues Past Reds in Game 3

- Hannibal, MO

An unlikely hero emerged Tuesday afternoon in the tenth inning of an edge of your seat thriller that took two days to complete. Twenty-four hours earlier, Brandon Bennett left Nichols Field feeling like a goat after getting doubled off second on a one out, bases loaded line drive to the outfield. The Ao Kamio blast looked like a game winner off the bat until a cat like Ian Hatton dove to corral it and doubled off Bennett at second, ending the game for the day. Fast forward a day and two innings later...Bennett stepped to the plate with two men on and one out and drove a first pitch fastball to the base of the wall in the right center gap plating the tying and winning run. The former goat was mobbed at the plate after striding into third with a stand-up triple.

The Blues now lead the best of five series 2-1, taking the Reds to the brink of elimination. Part of the Blues success has been Josh Pierce. The lead-off man has reached base safely seven out of eight times in the series. The Blues will need him to stay hot if they are to take a highly contested game 4.

- Trojan beat writer, Clay Biggs

2010 Trojan World Series Game 2 Recap

Chunk Stays Hot…Reds Send Blues Down in Flames

- Hannibal, MO

The Hindenburg disaster took place on Thursday, May 6, 1937, as the German passenger airship caught fire and was destroyed as it was attempting to dock. The accident served to shatter public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship, and marked the end of the airship era.

A disaster of similar proportion took place on Thursday, October 14, as the Blues were pulverized by the Reds at Nichols Field in game two of the 2010 Fungo World Series. Terrance Leihenseder continued his domination of the Blue pitching staff by recording three hits on the day, including a double, stolen base and three runs scored. Curtis Stout also stayed hot, hitting his second double of the series in the second inning. Levi Graham provided some pop out of the four hole with a sac fly in the second and a two run jack in the third.

With all of the runs scored by the Reds in game two, the question is not who was hot, but rather who was not? Answer: the Blues. Thanks to strong pitching by Roger “Rabbit” Bachtold and the rest of the staff, the Blues were unable to get a runner past second base in the five inning run rule shortened game. Only time will tell if their confidence has been shattered like those who watched in horror as the Hindenburg burst into flames and disintegrated so many years ago.

The series now sits at one game a piece with a tiebreaking showdown scheduled for 3:30 Monday at Nichols Field.

- Troajn Beat writer, Clay Biggs

2010 Trojan World Series Game 1 Recap

DYNAMIC DUO SAVES THE DAY FOR BLUES IN GAME 1

- Hannibal, MO

Strong pitching, a lack of offense, and poor defense was the recipe for an ugly game one win by the Blues. Only one player, Tyler Leihenseder, was able to scratch out more than one hit on the day. "Hooves" was fearless at the plate lacing singles in his first two plate appearances. The Reds could not capitalize on "Snookie's" top shelf performance, however, scratching out only three other base runners on the game and plating none of them.

The Blues version of Batman (Justin McGhee) and Robin (Jacob Genz) were in complete control on the mound. The Dynamic Duo combined for eight strike outs and zero walks in the shutout. Batman vowed to never take up firearms as a way to help him fight crime, because that's how his parents got murdered, but on Wednesday he was not afraid to use his super powered right arm and Bat Senses to dismantle his foes. The Dark Night managed to not work into one three ball count through four strong innings of work. Boy Wonder proved to be a loyal sidekick by not allowing a hit in three innings.

The pitching was also strong for the Reds. Blake Zurliene got the start and worked his way out of a first inning jam by coaxing a bases loaded double play and a fly out. Big Z was on cruise control after the first, allowing zero hits the rest of his 3 2/3 innings outing. Three pitchers tag-teamed the rest of the game allowing three hits in the remaining two and one third innings. It was not the hits, however, that would be the deciding factor. Three of the five errors committed by the Reds came in a two-run fifth inning that ultimately did them in. The Blues tried to return the favor in the 7th by committing two errors of their own, but Genzy-poo was able to work through the mess and qualify for the win. The Blues took game one by a score of 2-0.

Game two is scheduled for 3:30 on Thursday at Nichols Field.

- Trojan beat writer, Clay Biggs