Freight win Nokomis Tourney

Posted: Tuesday, Jul 12, 2005 - 04:57:19 pm CDT
By Chris Stalter, Sports Editor

Vandalia's men's fastpitch team swept pool play at the Nokomis Homecoming tournament, then threw two shutouts to win its second tournament this month.

Freight player/manager Rich Well earned tournament MVP honors, hitting three home runs and driving in eight runs for the Freight during their 5-0 weekend.

The Freight improved to 23-11 overall. They visit Wessel's in Teutopolis this Wednesday before taking a brief break. The Freight host the John Heather Memorial Tournament on July 23-24.

After posting a 3-0 mark in pool play on Saturday and Sunday, Guaranteed Air Freight beat the host team, Nokomis Bud Light, in the semifinals of the single-elimination tournament, 5-0, Sunday afternoon.

Alan Meinhart threw a six-hit shutout in that contest, walking only two. Meinhart struck out six.

The Freight garnered only four hits in the win, but made them count - two were home runs. Well hit a three-run homer in the third inning. Greg Bellaver hit an RBI double in the fourth, and Jeremy Moore homered in the fifth.

In the championship game, Marty Cloe outdueled Cerro Gordo ace T.J. Dobson, 2-0.

Cloe allowed only three hits in the shutout, striking out 14 and walking none.

Nick Casey gave the Freight a lead in the first inning with an RBI double. Bob Nagel added an RBI single in the sixth inning. Nagel had two hits in the win. Mike Simmons had one hit.

The Freight began pool play on Saturday morning with a 6-3 victory against Springfield Brandt's.

Brandt's jumped out on top, scoring two runs in the first inning. The Freight answered with four runs in the third inning, and never trailed again.

Moore drove in two runs with a single in the third inning. Casey drove in another run with a fielder's choice.

Brandt's scored a run in the bottom of the third to cut its deficit to 4-3. The Freight added two insurance runs in the fifth. Casey drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Freight tallied seven hits in the win. Brian Buscher and Simmons had two hits apiece. Casey, Jeff Jarrett and Moore each added a single.

Bellaver earned the victory, scattering six hits in a complete-game performance. Bellaver struck out four and allowed only one walk.

To finish play on Saturday, the Freight beat Hermann (Mo.) Black & Gold, 6-5, with an extra-inning comeback.

Hermann scored three times in the top of the first inning, but had its rally halted by the first of four double plays turned by the Freight in the game.

The Freight got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. J.D. Arnold bunted for a base hit, moved to second on a bunt by Simmons, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Arnold scored on two-out single by Well.

Well came through with another big two-out hit in the fifth inning. With an 0-2 count, Well drove a rise ball for a home run to center field, driving in Nagel, who reached on a one-out single.

The blast tied the contest, 3-3.

Neither team scored in the remainder of regulation, so the contest went to extra innings, which used international rules. In international rules, a runner starts the inning on second base.

Hermann put pressure on the Freight by scoring twice in the top of the eighth.

Well struck back swiftly in the bottom of the frame, hitting the first pitch of the inning back up the middle for an RBI single.

Well moved to third on a single by Casey.

Casey stole second before giving way to pinch runner Jeremy Curll.

With the bases loaded and one out, Greg Bellaver singled to right field, driving in Well and Curll for the victory.

On Sunday morning, the Freight broke out for six runs in the fourth inning on the way to an 8-4 victory against the Wolfpack.

Well and Bellaver homered in the inning. Kevin Cook, Simmons and Nagel all hit RBI doubles.

The Freight added two runs on a single by Casey in the sixth inning for insurance.

Bellaver had three hits. He also earned the victory, striking out five in a complete-game effort. He walked two and allowed nine hits.

Cerro Gordo's Brent Stevenson earned Most Valuable Pitcher honors. Nokomis Bud Light and Springfield Brandt's shared third place in the tournament.