Punishers Defeat Blues, Move Into 7th Place

August 4 - The Shawnee Punishers are on a roll lately. That is, when they show up to the ball field. One day after being short 2 players, the Punishers, fielding a full club, worked over the Kansas City Blues (4-12), 13-3. The game was decided in the 6th inning when the Punishers plated 11 runners to earn the spread.

The game was back-and-forth through the first 5 1/2 innings. A home run by pitcher Clint (Clemens) would give Shawnee a 2-1 lead in the third, a lead that would be relinquished in the top of the fourth. With strong defensive plays by both teams, it was a near-miss on a spectacular would-be double-play by star second baseman Matt Sargent that would allow the go-ahead run to score in the top of the 6th. "I was on my way to the bag for a pick-off, and there was a chopper hit up the middle, so, naturally, I'm thinking, perfect, let's get two and get back to bat. But the dirt infield at Macken had plans otherwise. That last bounce glanced enough off to the left to get me out of sync, and on the errant throw, they scored. So I knew I needed to make up for it on my next at-bat."

Sargent would lead off the bottom of the sixth inning with a line-drive shot to left field, past the outstretched hands of the Blues' third baseman and, two hits later, would score the tying run. Some 10 minutes later, Sargent would be at the dish again and, with a 3-o count, lace another line drive, this time to center, netting his only RBI of the evening. "I hit the ball hard three times, got two hits. Most importantly, however, is the victory. We need to win our next two to solidify our playoff spot, to not be forced to play in a one-game elimination game."

Punisher CF Tagg would hit the penultimate 2-run single that ended the game. "What an inning," Tagg said afterwards. "Even Reddell got a hit."

The Punishers next have a double-header on Saturday, August 9th, at Mid-America Sports Complex in Shawnee. ROY candidate Matt Sargent is listed as day-to-day for the games after fouling yet another pitch off his leg, this time the right one. "Just when I thought the left one was healing nicely, I do the same thing to my right shin," he said, post-game. We'll have to see if it tightens up or anything."

News and notes: 3B Dave Warner confirmed before the game that he will be re-locating to the California Penal League, which could open up a permanent roster spot for Sargent....Gatorade "Tiger" was spotted in Sargent's car both before and after the game, hinting at a possible endorsement deal....with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, Sargent improved his BA to .471 to lead all rookies....MABL playoffs begin August 18th with single-elimination games, best-of-three series begin August 22nd.