Cardinals baseball hangs tough after early challenge from Smithville
by St. Joseph News-Press
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Saturday proved to be stocked with pressure-filled situations for Benton’s Austin Garton.

First, Garton got called in from the field as a relief pitcher — with the bases loaded and his Cardinals down 4-2 in the top of the fourth inning of their Class 3 District 16 tournament game against Smithville. Garton got the Cardinals out of the jam by giving up just one run and then pitching three more scoreless innings to close out the game.

Then Garton found himself at the plate in the bottom of the seventh with the scored tied at 5. The Cardinals had runners on first and third with one out.

Again, Garton answered. He smacked an inside fastball deep into right field, plating the decisive run in Benton’s 6-5 first-round district tournament victory.

“We just needed to put it in play,” Garton said. “I knew I didn’t need to power up. We just needed one to win it.”

The victory kicks off Benton’s defense of its 2007 state championship. And, Garton said, the Cardinals are feeling some of the pressure to repeat.

“It is a lot of pressure when you think about it,” Garton said. “But you’ve just got to let it go. It’s a new day.”

Johnny Coy helped provide the offensive spark to re-ignite the Cardinals on Saturday. Coy hit his 12th home run of the season and finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBIs. On defense, Coy started one of the Cardinals’ three double plays.

Benton coach Mike Musser said he’d warned his Cardinals before the game that they’d have to prove their toughness at some point in the district tournament if they hoped to make another run at a state title.

“There’s going to be rough spots for every team, and the team that keeps fighting and maintains its composure is the one that’s going to keep playing,” said Musser, whose Cardinals are 19-2. “These guys kept it together today, maintained their composure, and that’s why I’m so proud of them.”

Savannah 5, Lafayette 0

Pitcher Travis Partridge threw a complete game and handcuffed the Fighting Irish hitters for seven innings.

Partridge didn’t give up a single extra-base hit and kept Lafayette scoreless.

Lee McFadden had a double and drove in two runs for Savannah. Mike Scanlon added a home run and two RBIs for the Savages.

Savannah next faces Benton at 5 p.m. Monday.

Platte County 11, Cameron 0

Platte County exploded for nine runs in the first inning, and Pirates pitcher Jeff Cline cruised through seven innings while shutting down Cameron.

Justin Wilson was 4-for-4 for the Pirates, including a double and two RBIs. Nick Maxwell (2-for-3 ) and Cameron Kuhn (2-for-2) each had a game-high three RBIs.

Kearney 6, Maryville 0

Maryville managed to get some good hits, but it couldn’t push the runs across the plate.

Kearney’s offense proved more timely with Kyle Evans knocking in two RBIs. Tanner Funk led Kearney by going 2-for-4. Evans also came in relief of pitcher Jake Hai in the seventh inning.

Maryville’s Cory Cronk had a big game, even if his Spoofhounds lost. Cronk went 3-for-4 and had two doubles.

Kearney and Platte County play at 7 p.m. Monday.