Riverbend edged by Wayne County 1-0

Friday, July 17, 2015
Riverbend Ducks starter Garrison Keene delivers a pitch to a Wayne Co. batter Thursday during the Missouri Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament at Hillhouse Park in Charleston. (Brent Shipman/Standard Democrat)

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CHARLESTON -- Locked in a pitcher's duel with Riverbend, it was Wayne County's ability to capitalize on a few Duck mistakes that proved to be the difference Monday in the Missouri Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.

Scoring the game's only unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lumberjacks held on for a 1-0 final Thursday that keeps them in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

Until the fifth frame, Riverbend starting pitcher Garrison Keene battled Wayne County hurler Trey McDaniel to a stalemate.

Keene opened up the home half of the inning with a strikeout and appeared to have the second out on another swinging third strike. Riverbend catcher Drew Pikey couldn't handle the pitch, however, and Lumberjack hitter Lathan Blackburn made it to first without a throw to first.

Another passed ball allowed Blackburn to move to second base then Devon Duncan hit a line drive just out of the reach of Ducks' third baseman Logan Damesworth.

"Their pitcher was getting a little tired and Devon just hit one hard that got by the third baseman and that's the ball game," Wayne County head coach Jeff Null said. "It's funny you play seven innings and something little like that wins it for you."

McDaniel sent the final six Riverbend batters down in order to hold on for the win and move the Ducks into the loser's bracket of the tournament.

"That's a tough way to lose on a bad hop at third and a third strike missed ball," Riverbend head coach Tim Campbell said. "But you have to take your hat off to McDaniel. He's one of the best pitcher's in the area and he showed it today."

The Ducks had several opportunities of their own early on, but couldn't find a timely hit to strike.

In the top of the first inning Ben Story drew a walk to leadoff the game and Palmer Campbell reached on an error to put runners at first and third with no outs. Before the the Ducks could capitalize, a line drive right to Wayne County third baseman Trystan Holmes allowed the Lumberjacks to turn a crucial double play. A strike out followed to get McDaniel out of the inning unscathed.

A one-out triple by Campbell in the top of the fourth once again put the go-ahead run on third for Riverbend with less than two outs, but a line out and strikeout left Campbell stranded.

"That first inning we got the walk and the error," Tim Campbell said. "Ben got to third and Pikey smashes one to third. Another foot in the air and we have two runs on them in the first inning. Then Palmer got the triple and once again we got the guy up we want and he hits another bullet right at somebody."

Keene takes the loss in five innings of work. He gave up the one unearned run on six hits without issuing a walk and striking out five. Palmer Campbell came in to the game to pitch after Wayne County opened up the sixth with two-straight hits to keep it a one run game.

Campbell hit a batter with his first pitch to load the bases, but struck out three-straight to keep his team within striking distance.

"Keene is our No. 2 pitcher and you can see today he's no slouch," Tim Campbell said. "We kind of have 1A and 1B with him and Palmer. We faced (Wayne County) earlier this year and threw Palmer. We decided to change it up today and of course Garrison came through big time. I couldn't be more proud of him."

McDaniel went the full seven innings allowing two hits and one walk while fanning seven. Duncan led the Lumberjacks with a 2 for 3 effort that included a double and the game-winning RBI.

"In our first two tournament games we've only scored four runs and we're 2-0," Null said. "Our pitcher did an excellent job and carried us. We haven't really got the bats going and I think that's part of being off a couple weeks because of the rain and also facing good pitching."

Wayne County will face Charleston today at 5 p.m. in the winner's bracket finals. Riverbend will try to stave off elimination when they play the Mid-Missouri Peacocks at 2 p.m.

Riverbend 000 000 0 - 0 2 1

Wayne Co. 000 010 x - 1 6 0

WP - Trey McDaniel. LP - Garrison Keene. Multiple hits - (W) Duncan 2-3. 2B - (W) Devon Duncan, Blake Kearbey. 3B - (R) Palmer Campbell.

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