Van Buren makes quick work of Hawks

KEOSAUQUA ? Van Buren baseball coach Chad Scott wasn?t particularly enthused following his team?s 20-5, four-inning victory over Central Lee in conference action Tuesday.

Instead of celebrating the 15-run-rule win against the Hawks, Scott had his players practicing defensive drills immediately following the team?s 14th win in 2012.

?We hit the ball well tonight but I?m a little disappointed with our defense,? the head man explained as he supervised the drills. ?We failed to make a few routine plays that we typically make, and sometimes the little things lose ball games. We need to start cleaning that up a little bit.?

The eighth-ranked (Class 2A) Warriors committed two errors, and Central Lee benefitted to score three unearned runs. In a different game, the mistakes could have been the difference between a win and a loss, Scott said.

This time, however, the errors would only keep the result in doubt for the first few innings. It was apparent early on Van Buren was going to let its bats do the talking and keep the baseball scoreboard as active as one at a football contest.

The Warriors scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but a Van Buren fielding error handed Central Lee two runs to tie the game at 2-all. The Warriors scored three more runs in the bottom of the second and only picked up steam from there.

Van Buren exploded for eight runs in the third inning and finished Central Lee off with a seven-run fourth, where every Warrior run crossed the plate with two outs.

The Warriors (14-1, 9-0 SEISC south) have now won 10 straight games dating back to a May 26 loss to top-ranked Davis County. Tuesday?s victory was the third time Van Buren has won via the 15-run rule this season.

Although nearly every Warrior impressed from inside the batter?s box, the one who pleased Scott most was the team?s youngest, Garrett Saunders. The freshman finished the game 4 for 5 from the plate with a pair of doubles and four RBI.

?For a 15-year-old kid to step into this level of baseball and do what he?s been doing, I?m really proud of him,? Scott said. ?He?s an aggressive baserunner and really a spark plug for us.?

Eight of Van Buren?s nine batters collected at least one hit in the 15-hit contest. The ninth, designated hitter Jacob Wolf, patiently earned two bases via the walk. Senior Ty Smith knocked in four runs on two hits, while Blake Scott, Nic Giberson and Mitchell Bartholomew also tallied two hits apiece. Freshman Brandon Plecker scored three runs as a courtesy runner.

Scott toed the rubber for Van Buren to earn the win. The senior gave up six hits and issued one free pass to allow two earned runs; he struck out three.

Van Buren is set to face Keokuk today, with the JV contest beginning at 1 p.m. and varsity to immediately follow.

Van Buren vs. Central Lee

Central Lee ? 0 2 0 3 ? 5 6 4

Van Buren ? 2 3 8 7 ? 20 15 2

VAN BUREN ? Saunders 4-5, 2(2B), 4RBI, 2R; Smith 3-4, 4RBI, 3R; Scott 2-4, 2B, 3RBI, 2R; Giberson 2-4, 3B, 2RBI, 2R; Bartholomew 2-2; Weaver 1-2, RBI, 2R; Countryman 1-3, RBI, 3R; Laughlin 1-3, RBI, R; Wolf RBI, 2R; Plecker 3R

Pitching ? Scott (W) 4 INN, 5R, 2ER, 6H, BB, 3K