It was a beautilfully pleasant evening in every sense (unless one is a Sold Rush fan) as First National Bank defeated Sold Rush 4-0 on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. Jacob Stephens, Payton Hartbank and Alex Gowin all combined to pitch a no run, no hit game shutout of their opponents, giving First National a 15-2 record for the season overall and a chance to play one more time.
Jacob Stephens was the starting pitcher for First National, and he walked lead off hitter Sam Lodes. Mitch Godden grounded back to Stephens on a 3-1 count, and Stephens' throw to second base pulled shortstop Nixon Doughty off the bag, the errant throw allowing both runners to reach base safely. Luke Beavers fanned for out number one, and Andrew Deremiah was caught looking for out number two. Brody Warren then grounded out to third baseman Wyatt Krikie who stepped on third base to force out Lodes to end the top of the first.
As it turned out, First National scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first. Pitcher Mitch Godden struck out leadoff hitter Creighton Simmonds, but Alex Gowin was able to coax a walk on a full count. Payton Hartbank lined out to short. Alex Gowin swiped second base to put himself in scoring position and he came home on a single to right off the bat of Jacob Stephens for the first run of the game. Nixon Doughty hit what appeared to be an inning-ending bouncer to the pitcher but Godden's throw was very wild to first base, which allowed Stephens to score the unearned run all the way from first base as Nixon Doughty took third on the play. Doughty then came home for the third run of the inning as Godden uncorked a wild pitch before striking out Wyatt Krikie to end the first inning.
Payton Hartbank took the mound in the top of the second, getting Cooper Collings, Alec Smith and Dylan Bynum to take strike three as Hartbank really threw off their timing with his mix of off-speed pitches. He did have one walk in the inning, a two out pass given to Lucas Carpenter on a 3-2 pitch that just missed hitting the outside corner of the plate.
Shyler Bryant walked to start things off for First National in the bottom of the second. Alex Carey was called out on strikes as a fastball from Godden painted the outside corner. Daniel Ferguson followed with the first of his two base hits as he legged out an infield single hit to the second baseman who was surprised to see Daniel race to first ahead of his throw, and Bryant took second. Both runners were stranded as Bobby Pearson and Chris Butler struck ot.
Stephens was back pitching in the top of the third. Will Padgett could not catch up to a Stephens fastball for out number one and Sam Lodes could do no better as he swung and missed at strike three for out number two. Mitch Godden reached safely as shortstop Payton Hartbank mishandled the ball hit to him for a two out error, but no damage was done as Luke Beavers could not pull the trigger on another fastball from Stephens, this one right down the middle as Sold Rush's inning came to a close.
Dylan McBride led off with a walk on a 3-2 pitch to start the bottom of the third. Creighton Simmonds flew out deep into right field for out number one and Alex Gowin was called out on strikes on a changeup from Godden for out number two. Payton Hartbank hit a double down the right field line, but the tall, unmowed grass slowed the ball down enough to keep McBride from scoring. Jacob Stephens took a 2-2 fastball for strike three as the third inning was history.
Alex Gowin, the third pitcher for First National, went to the mound in the top of the fourth, striking out Andrew Deremiah, Brody Warren, and Alec Smith. Copper Collings was issued a two out base on balls, but he was left at second base following a steal.
Nixon Doughty popped out to shortstop to lead things off for First National in their half of the fourth inning, and Wyatt Krikie walked. Skyler Bryant popped out to first for out number two to bring up Alex Carey, who was called out on strikes as he was frozen on a fastball from pitcher Sam Lodes.
The top of the fifth inning was the only time either team went down 1-2-3. Gowin induced Lucas Carpenter to hit an easy grounder to first baseman Skyler Bryant for out number one and Dylan Bynum and Will Padgett were both strikeout victims, each whiffing on fastballs thrown from Gowin.
Daniel Ferguson led off for First National in the bottom of the fifth inning as Sam Lodes resumed pitching. Ferguson took the first four pitches he saw to find himself facing a 2-2 situation. He then spoiled three high and outside pitches from Lodes as Ferguson protected the plate. On the eighth pitch of the at bat Ferguson turned on a fasball and sent it deep over the left fielder's head for a leadoff triple. Bobby Pearson followed with a walk. Chris Butler struck out, but then Ferguson and Pearson pulled off the successful double steal to give First National a 4-0 lead. Dylan McBride was called out on strikes for out number two before Creighton Simmonds was issued the free two out pass. Alex Gowin then grounded out to first unassisted to end the fifth.
Sold Rush had the top of the order to face and the no hitter on the line as the sixth inning began. Payton Hartbank was back again pitching, and he walked Sam Lodes. Mitch Godden hit a grounder to second baseman Creighton Simmonds, who made a fine play on the ball as he tagged out Lodes for out number one before firing a strke over to first to complete the double play. Luke Beavers was then walked on a 3-1 count, bringing up cleanup hitter Andrew Deremiah. Hartbank made short work of Deremiah, striking him out on three pitches to complete the gem.
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