Freight win 3 of 4

Posted: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 08:22:36 am CDT
By Chris Stalter, Sports Editor

Vandalia's men's fastpitch softball team won the first three of its four home games on Friday and Saturday.

Guaranteed Air Freight improved to 5-1 on the spring by sweeping the Belleville Stallions on Friday, then splitting with Lee's Sports of Radom on Saturday.

In Friday's opening game, the Freight came back from a 9-5 deficit by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 10-9 win.

Kevin Cook completed the game-winning rally with a two-out, two-run single.

Nick Casey hit two home runs and drove in four runs, finishing 3-for-4 in the game.

Greg Bellaver added a single and double, driving in two runs. Jeremy Moore and Mark Burnam also had two hits.

Alan Meinhart earned the win, striking out 11 in seven innings. Only four of the nine runs he allowed were earned.

In Friday's second game, the Freight scored a 5-4 victory.

Jeremy Moore hit two homers, and Casey added a solo shot to lead the Freight's offense. Rich Well had two hits, and Joe Kelly had a hit and an RBI.

Payton Cloe earned the complete-game win, allowing six hits.

On Saturday, the Freight won the first game against Radom, 7-0.

Brad Sturdy recorded 12 of the 15 outs by strikeout for the Freight. He allowed only three hits and a walk in the shutout.

Casey continued his phenomenal start, going 3-for-3, with a solo homer. Mike Simmons had a triple and two RBIs. Bellaver had two hits and two RBIs. Jeff Jarrett had a hit and an RBI. J.D. Arnold added a pair of hits.

In the final game of the weekend, Radom squeaked out a 2-1 victory.

Kelly hit a solo homer in the third for the Freight's lone run. Radom came back to tie the game in the fifth, then took a lead in the sixth.

Casey took the tough-luck loss, allowing only six hits. He struck out six and walked two. Only one of the two runs he allowed was earned.

The Freight compete this weekend in the ISC Crossover Tournament in St. Charles (Mo.), with games at noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.