July 16, 2016
Older Squirrels take out younger counterpart in Sr. Babe quarterfinals
Garrison Keene cut down two runners when the Squirrels needed it most and Charleston native Dylan Baugh played hero in the bottom of the ninth inning.
By Chris Pobst ~ Standard Democrat
CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Charleston Squirrels catcher Garrison Keene has been given the green light to throw out anyone he sees fit. In fact, coach Michael Minner told him that was his only job this summer.
"He didn't care if I got a hit all year," Keene said.
Keene, a New Madrid County Central graduate, cut down two runners when the Squirrels needed it most and Charleston native Dylan Baugh played hero in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the MLB Squirrels a 2-1 walkoff win over the AAA Squirrels during the quarterfinals of the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament.
Both starters went at least seven innings in the pitcher's duel. The two gave up a combined 12 hits during a sticky Friday afternoon with the heat index reaching 100 degrees.
In a game dominated by pitching and defense, Keene produced two plays that kept the MLB Squirrels' season alive.
He caught AAA's Max Ault trying to steal to end the eighth. His biggest of three pickoffs on the day came with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.
Tanner McVay, who started a two-out rally against reliever Jacob Clark with a walk, was standing at third after an infield single by Caden Hilleman and another walk to JD Jenkins. McVay took a big lead off third and that was noticed by Keene.
Keene's throw beat McVay by a step and MLB third baseman Wyatt Pratt applied the tag just as McVay reached for the bag to end the threat.
"Phenomenal," Minner said. "When you look back, those were the biggest plays. He throws the guy out at second...Got the guy at third where a base hit blows the game open. We were fortunate enough to dodge one there. Garrison has been phenomenal. His throwing arm is exceptional and he gets rid of the ball so well."
Keene's play sparked life into the MLB Squirrels who immediately put pressure on AAA starter Logan Damesworth the next half inning.
Baugh, who also plays for Minner on the Charleston High School team, smacked a double to centerfield for the winning run. Drew Pikey, who led off the inning with a single and was pushed to second after an infield bunt single by Wyatt Pratt, easily reached home on the hit.
Baugh was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and was hit for in the seventh before his game-winning double.
"I was just looking for a pitch to drive," Baugh said.
MLB starter Palmer Campbell lasted seven innings giving up one run on seven hits and one walk. The AAA's lone run was scored on a wild pitch in the third inning when CJ Seger jumped on the ball to the backstop.
"If Palmer Campbell doesn't start that game we probably don't win," Minner said. "We needed that gutsy performance."
Clark got the win after pitching the final two innings.
The AAA Squirrels, who are part of the Charleston Fighting Squirrels family of teams this summer, are an 18U team who's given their bigger brother fits throughout the season. Out of four games the AAA team owns one win and three of the four came down to the wire.
Friday's was by far the closest.
"We knew it was going to be tough because they've beat us before," Keene said. "Damesworth is a monster out there. It's tough to read anything he throws up there."
Damesworth is a right-hander with a sidearm delivery who'll be a senior at South Pemiscot in August. His delivery and constant movement gave the MLB Squirrels problems early allowing just one hit through the first five innings.
He was pulled for reliever Trey Kirkpatrick after the first batter in the ninth inning reached on a single.
"He keeps guys off balance and when he needs to he can reach back and throw it," AAA coach Ian Householder said. "He's going to make a really good college pitcher one day. He's been our best pitcher all year and that never changed. He really showed me the kind of heart he has. He's always had the skill. We knew that. But, he showed me a lot of heart today."
Charleston's AAA team scored first in the top of the third. The MLB squad tied the game at 1-all in the bottom of the fourth. Both teams saw prime scoring opportunities squandered by defenses that didn't want to blink first, until the ninth.
The win moves the older, second-seeded Squirrels into the semifinals against No. 3 seed Wayne County, who defeated Mineral Area 12-1 earlier in the day, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
"We know we'll be challenged no matter what happens tomorrow," Minner said.
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