Cranford Leads Rowan Legion Over Lexington
July 15th, 2007 Posted in American Legion baseball
Photo: Rowan celebrates Roland homer.
DC Cranford hit a monster two run home run that might still be in the air to lead Rowan (playoff photos; season videos) over Lexington (playoff and season photos) in game one of the second round playoff series. Cranford was the player of the game as he also hit a double, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored. After the game, Cranford said he got the green light and was looking for a fastball - “it was right there, so I just hit it as hard as I could. I tried to stay back and keep my foot down, and it worked out.”
Rowan started strong after their three day layoff (thanks to sweeping Mooresville) as leadoff hitter Justin Roland slammed a home run to left, Weston Church doubled in Justin Ridenhour, and then came around to score on an error to give Rowan a 3 - 0 lead. Lexington came right back with a second inning run when Andrew Hunt singled to left center, and took second on a Keegan Linza wild pitch. After Matt Tysinger walked, Linza threw the ball away trying to pick Tysinger off first base, advancing the runners to second and third. Linza got Lexington star Alex Grubb to ground out, but it scored Hunt to cut the Rowan lead to 3 - 1.
Linza pitched well through five, allowing only that one run and striking out six, but Linza walked Hunt and Tysinger to start the sixth, and was pulled for Matt Hall. Zach Roach then hit a double to the left field wall, but Rowan’s defense came up big, cutting down Hunt at the plate. Grubb was then intentially walked to load the bases, and Wilhelm hit a clutch single to left, scoring Tysinger and Roach to tie the game at 3. Lexington scored one more on a Frank single to take a 4 - 3 lead, but Hall got a big strikeout to limit the damage and end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Alex Britt walked and then Cranford stepped to the plate and hit a monster home run, which turned out to be the game winner. Coach Gantt commented “Britt was down in the count and worked out the walk. That was key. Then Cranford really lined up with the ball, hitting the opposite field shot.”
Corbin Shive retired all eight Lexington hitters that he faced for the win to finish off the Rowan game one victory. Cranford said, “Keegan pitched well early keeping them to one run, Hall got big outs, and Shive was great closing it out. Shive gives it all when he gets in there, always working hard out there.” Coach Gantt also highlighted the pitching, “Keegan did well early. Lost it towards the end, getting the ball up a bit, but Lexington is a good hitting team that hit Keegan well earlier this year. Hall did a good job and then I brought Shive in because I felt he matched up a bit better with the Lexington lineup. He came in, filled up the strike zone, and came up big.”
Coach Gantt said Cy Young would start game two - “Cy always competes and always gives the team a chance to win the game”. The series shifts to Lexington for game two tomorrow.
