Charleston wins thriller

Sunday, April 18, 2010
Charleston's Danny McKinney (center) is congratulated at home plate by his teammates after hitting a home run against Bernie Friday afternoon. McKinney had eight hits in two games with three home runs. Brent Shipman, staff

BERNIE -- It took extra innings but the visiting Charleston Bluejays out-muscled the Bernie Mules, thanks to a 2-run home run by Danny McKinney in the top of the eighth inning to guide the Bluejays to a 10-8 win.

"I was happy that Ethan (Browning) got on in front of me," McKinney said. "I was hoping just to move him over, maybe hit a gap shot to move the runner and I happen to hit it out."

McKinney's home run in the eighth was his second of the night, hitting a grand slam in the first while going 4-for-5 on the night with six RBI.

James Naile picked up the win, entering the game in relief for the last 2 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out four.

After overcoming a late Bernie charge that led to the Mules tying the game, Charleston coach Michael Minner said he's proud of how his team carried itself in adversity.

"For a young team we do things like veterans right now," he said. "We don't get all wound up when we get runners on base, we just go about our business.

"We don't drop our heads."

Charleston501 020 02 - 10
Bernie140 002 10 - 8

WP -- James Naile (4-2). LP -- Austin Hatchell. Multiple hits -- Zach Rowland, (C), 3-5, Danny McKinney, (C), 4-5, Justin Hardin, (C), 2-5, Jake Welch, (B), 3-4, Jake Owens, 2-5, Quinton Stevens, (B), 2-4. Extra-base hits -- 2B: Hardin (C), Jason Showmaker, (C); 3B: Stevens; HR: McKinney, (C), 2, Welch, (B), 2.

Charleston 19, Greenville 9

BERNIE -- The Charleston Bluejays defeated the Greenville Bears for their second win in the Malden Baseball Tournament in decisive fashion.

Marshall Stallings and Danny McKinney both had a game-high four hits, going 4-for-5 and 4-for-6 respectively.

Jason Showmaker and James Naile both had three hits apiece for the Bluejays while Justin Hardin and Zach Rowland both collected two.

Hardin also got the win, his first of the season.

Charleston630 002 8 -- 19
Greenville104 040 0 -- 9

WP -- Justin Hardin (1-0). LP -- Wren. Multiple hits -- Marshall Stallings, (C), 4-5, James Naile, (C), 3-6, Zach Rowland, (C), 2-5, Danny McKinney, (C), 4-6, Justin Hardin, 2-4, Jason Showmaker, (C), 3-5. Extra-base hits -- 2B: Stallings, (C), Naile, (C); HR: Naile, (C), 2, McKinney, (C), Hardin, (C), Showmaker, (C).

Oran 8, NMCC 6

MALDEN -- Trailing by two entering the top of the seventh, Oran put up a four-run rally to edge past New Madrid County Central 8-6.

"They got some big hits today and did a good job," Oran coach Mitch Wood said of his young squad. "They did what they had to do to win."

NMCC had just put up a combined four runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a two run lead, needing only one more solid inning to get its first win of the season.

"All we needed was three outs," NMCC coach John Jones said. "I don't know what happened.

"Just all of the sudden our pitches weren't going across the plate."

It was singles by Dalton Elfrink and Adam Schaefer each bringing in two runs in the seventh that was the deciding factor.

Three Oran players tied for the team lead in hits as Elfrink, Schaefer and Mac McConnell all collected two.

C.J. Chism had two hits for NMCC, going 2-for-4 in the contest.

Oran400 000 4 - 8
NMCC101 022 0 - 6

WP -- Gabe Kielhofner. LP -- Denton Daugherty. Multiple hits -- Dalton Elfrink, (O), 2-3, Adam Schaefer, (O), 2-4, Mac McConnell, (O) 2-4, C.J. Chism, (N), 2-4. Extra-base hits -- 2B: Elfrink, (O), 2, McConnell, (O), Denton Daugherty, (N), Austin Meese, (N).

Cooter 7, NMCC 6

MALDEN -- Cooter's Dustin Franklin singled in the top of the ninth to drive home the winning run as the Wildcats edged the NMCC Eagles 7-6.

After trailing 5-2 going in to the bottom of the seventh, NMCC scored three in the frame to tie up the game and send it to extra innings.

Both teams would score one in the eighth before Franklin's above mentioned hit drove in a run in the ninth with the Eagles unable to answer.

Cooter defeated Oran 6-4 in the nightcap of the tournament. Results from the game were unavailable at press time.

Cooter 002 011 111 - 7
NMCC 000 200 310 - 6

Multiple hits -- Childer, (C), 2-5, Watkins, (C), 2-5, Anderson, (C), 2-4, (C), Ward, (C), 2-3 Collin Ivie, (N) 2-5, Denton Daugherty, (N), 2-3, Kyle Harris, (N), 2-5. Extra-base hits -- 2B: Childer, (C), 2, Watkins, (C), Anderson, (C).

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