Magnet Cove shuts out baseball Bulldogs

By Clark Johnson
UCA sportswriting

After scoring a run in the first and second innings, the Magnet Cove Panthers held their lead, shutting out the St. Joseph Bulldogs, 2-0, in a 2A-5 North conference game Friday at Curtis Walker Park in Conway.

After a Blake Dodson lead-off single to center field in the first, the Panthers (7-6) got first baseman Hunter Linam to advance Dodson to second on a sacrifice bunt. St. Joseph pitcher Andrew Beck struck out his next batter but walked left fielder Josh Scott. On the following pitch, Beck’s pick-off attempt at first went past first baseman Chris Rega, scoring Dodson. Magnet Cove catcher Colton Ross grounded out to short stop to end the inning.

The Bulldogs (3-2) started the bottom of the first with a runner on base after Magnet Cove pitcher Connor Wells hit right fielder Taylor Shrek with a pitch. After catcher Cory Breeding struck out checking, Beck grounded into a 5-3 double play to end the inning.

In the top of the second, Magnet Cove started out with two runners on base after a Bill Watson single, followed by Beck walking Andrew Pierce. Wells grounded to the mound, and Beck threw Watson out at third. After third baseman Britten McDaniel flew out to third, Dodson sent a line-drive single to center field to bring Pierce in for the Panther’s second run.

The Bulldogs had a chance to gain some ground on Magnet Cove in the bottom of the second. After Nash Nichols’ blooper to right field and Andrew Kordsmeier advanced to first off a passed ball on a strikeout, St. Joseph shortstop Austin Harrell hit a ground ball directly at McDaniel, who deflected the ball off his glove, loading the bases. The No. 9 hitter in the Bulldogs’ lineup, designated hitter Joe Downey, stepped to the plate with one out and a chance to bring in some runs for the Bulldogs, but he struck out swinging, bringing Shrek back to the plate. Shrek grounded out to first to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded.

Magnet Cove coach Robert Webb was relieved his team made it out unscathed.

“Once we made it out of that inning, we knew we just had to hold on,” Webb said. “It was only a matter of time before Beck started controlling the game. I’d heard about him, and we knew those two runs could save us.”

Webb’s theory was proven true as Beck singlehandedly retired the Panthers’ side in the top of the third. Beck struck out the first two batters, then threw out Colton Ross on a sharp ground ball straight to the mound.

The Bulldogs had defensive momentum going into the bottom of the inning, and had a 2-3-4 batting lineup coming to the plate. However, Breeding, Beck, and Rega all flew out to leave St. Joseph scoreless going into the fourth.

Beck contained the Panthers again in the top of the fourth, leaving his team to once again try to put a run on the board. In the bottom of the inning, Nichols sent a line drive to center field after left fielder Cole Schichtl flew out. Wells walked Kordsmeier on four pitches, putting Nichols to second and Kordsmeier on first. St. Joseph coach Luke Davis saw an opportunity and sent both his runners to steal their bases during Harrell’s at bat. With two runners in scoring position, Harrell was at bat with a full count but struck out swinging. Downey then struck out swinging also to leave Nichols and Kordsmeier stranded.

Webb said his team had escaped death twice.

“I couldn’t believe we made it out again,” Webb said. “We were fortunate they weren’t closer towards the top of the lineup, and (Connor) Wells did his job.”

Beck continued to dominate the Magnet Cove offense as the Panthers went three up-three down in both the fifth and sixth. However, St. Joseph, too, went three up-three down in the bottom of the sixth, going into the seventh inning still trailing 2-0.

After allowing only one hit in the top of the inning, Beck gave his team one last chance to gain some ground. Kordsmeier led his team off in the bottom of the seventh with a blooper to shallow center field. Harrell then sent a ball mere feet away from the left field fence, but the Panthers' defense was up to the task. Downey struck out again, bringing the top of the lineup back to the plate with two outs and Kordsmeier on base. Shrek sent a sharp grounder past McDaniel down the third baseline, bringing Kordsmeier to second. With a runner in scoring position, Breeding hit a ground ball to second base where the Panthers tagged the base to secure hand St. Joseph its first conference loss of the year.

Beck finished the game with eight strikeouts and allowed just five hits.

Davis hailed Beck’s effort.

“Andrew pitched a great game today," he said. "I don’t know what more he could have done. When you leave four runners in scoring position and don’t capitalize on one of them, it’s hard to come back from that.”

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back against conference opponent England Monday at Curtis Walker Park.