Freight begin 2006 campaign

Posted: Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 - 11:54:16 am CDT
By Chris Stalter, Sports Editor

Vandalia's men's fastpitch softball team started its 2006 campaign with a split at home on Wednesday.

Guaranteed Air Freight fell to Lee's Sports Falcons of Radom in the opener, 6-2, then bounced back for a 4-1 victory in the nightcap at Reummelin Park.

In the first game, the Freight built a 2-0 lead by scoring a run in the third inning and another in the fifth inning.

Brian Buscher tripled in the bottom of the third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rich Well.

Mark Burnam's RBI single in the fifth inning drove in Bryan Hobbie to make it 2-0.

Radom made its comeback in the seventh inning, scoring six runs in the frame.

Marty Cloe took the loss, striking out 10 and walking four. Cloe, who allowed three hits through six innings, surrendered six hits in the game.

The Freight had only four hits in the game against John "L.A." Kiselewski. Burnam had two hits. Buscher tripled, and Jeremy Curll singled.

In the second game, Alan Meinhart and Nick Casey combined for a three-hitter as the Freight (1-1) posted their first victory of the season.

The Freight opened up a 3-0 lead with a three-run third inning. Hobbie hit an RBI triple and Burnam drove in Hobbie with a hit.

Meinhart added an RBI single in the sixth inning.

Radom's lone run scored in the fourth inning.

Meinhart earned the victory, pitching the first four innings. He allowed one hit, one run and one walk, striking out five.

Casey threw three innings for the save, allowing two hits and two walks. Casey struck out one batter.

The Freight tallied seven hits in the second game.

In addition to Burnam, Hobbie and Meinhart's hits, Buscher, Casey and Cloe singled.

The Freight return to action with back-to-back doubleheaders with Nokomis on Friday and Saturday.

The two teams are playing in the South Central Illinois ISC Qualifier. Friday's games will begin at 7 p.m. in Vandalia. Saturday's twinbill begins at 2 p.m. in Nokomis.