By Rick Conrad
For the Pharos-Tribune
May 16, 2008 12:23 am
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With Mother Nature threatening to cut the game short the Logansport Berries took the field with one order from coach Jim Turner: “Go to the plate swinging the bats.” His team did just that and dispatched the Marion Giants in five innings by a score of 11-0.
Luke Zinsmaster started on the mound and went the distance for the Berries pitching a no- hitter against the visiting Giants. A stingy Logan defense allowed only two batters to reach base by a second inning error and a third inning walk with neither runner getting past first base.
The Logan bats got to Marion starter Joe Ellett early and often as the Berries totaled 11 hits in the shortened game.
Grant McCloskey got things going in the first inning with a two-out base hit to the gap in right-center field. Cam Foster was then safe at first on a throwing error by Giant third baseman Wade Brodt. McCloskey was able to advance to third on the errant throw and Foster trotted to second. Zinsmaster then came to the plate and with a 1-2 count against him swung and missed for strike three. Marion catcher Thomas Barnes dropped the third strike and an alert Zinsmaster broke for first base. Another throwing error by the Giant allowed Zinsmaster to reach first safely and allowed McCloskey and Foster to score.
In the second inning Logan collected three more runs on hits by sophomore Chris Titus who gathered his first varsity hit by sending a 2-0 pitch between short and third. Berries Sam Starbuck delivered with an RBI double and Matt McKay a two-RBI single for Logansport in the second.
Jon Tierney opened the third with a base hit and advanced to second when Titus drew a walk. Jake Weinstein then reached safely on a fielders’ choice when Tierney was forced out at third. Marion tried for the double play by getting Weinstein at first but the throw was too late. A hustling Titus went from first to third on the play. Starbuck then delivered again when he had a base hit that scored Titus.
Logansport’s offense again took control in the fourth when five runs crossed the plate off hits from McCloskey, Foster, Tierney, and pinch-hit singles from Nic Murray and Micha Farrell. McCloskey opened the inning with a hard line drive to third. Foster then reached safely on an infield single. Zinsmaster then reached on another Marion error to load the bases. Tierney sent a Giant offering for a two-RBI double. With Titus at the plate the ball got past the Marion catcher scoring Zinsmaster from third. Starbuck then drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Murray pinch hit for Mark Fultz and collected a RBI single scoring Tierney. The next batter was Farrell who was pinch hitting for McKay. Farrell jumped on the first pitch offered to him and send a shot to right center field scoring Starbuck.
After the game coach Turner said that he was pleased with how his team handled Marion.
“They always play relaxed and if you let them hang around awhile anything can happen and pretty soon you’re going uh-oh, and that always worries me,” he said.
Turner was also pleased with the pitching performance from Zinsmaster.
“I’m not certain that Luke had his best stuff tonight but he kept the ball low and was hurrying to get the ball in there.”
With the win Logan improves its record to 14-11 and 7-5 in the North Central Conference. Marion drops to 5-19 overall and 2-10 in conference play.
Logansport will host NCC foe Muncie Central for a doubleheader on Saturday which is also senior day for the class of 2008.
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