Martin Oil experienced little trouble in pounding Corporal Miller 14-2 at Vets Field on Saturday night to improve to 4-3 in the George B. Kelley Federation League. Quite a difference from the league opener when the two teams took turns scoring multiple runs in several innings, with Martin Oil using a late start to score 10 times in the fourth and fifth and then holding off Corporal Miller who came back with five runs in their final two at bats to escape with a 12-11 triumph.
This time, Martin Oil again used big innings in the middle, batting around in both the fourth and fifth innings to plate nine runs and ended up with 14 runs before all the damage was done.
The difference however, was a superb pitching performance by Martin Oil’s Chris Alley, who scattered four hits in giving up just two runs, both unearned, while striking out six and not walk a batter. With the help from his teammates’ offense, Alley breezed through the Corporal order retiring the final seven batters in a row.
Martin Oil struck in the first two innings for a pair of unearned runs to get the early advantage.
With one out in the first, Andy Brisbin, who reached base five times in the game, was hit by a pitch. Matt Albright slugged a double to right center to advance Brisbin to third base, where he scored on the first of five Corporal Miller errors.
In the second frame, Kyle Drost walked and was sacrificed to second by Ryan Kenawell. Dan Graham walked. Drost was out at third on a fielder’s choice by Brandon Beech for the second out. Graham scored on a pair of errors by the Corporal Miller shortstop to give Martin Oil a 2-0 lead.
Drost started a five-run spurt by the Oilers two innings later. Kyle’s singled to lead off the fourth inning and Kenawell singled to send him to second. With one out. Beech walked to load the bases. Brisbin ripped a single past the Corporal Miller first baseman to drive in Drost and Kenawell, before Albright’s ac fly scored Beech. Cubby McCartney doubled Albright to third and Matt Plummer singled to score both runners.
Leading 7-2 after four innings, Martin Oil batted around for the second straight inning in the fifth. Kenawell singled with one out and Graham walked. Kenawell scored when Mark DelGrosso’s grounder was thrown away and Brisbin was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. With the bases again loaded, Graham scored on a wild pitch and Albright’s second sacrifice fly of the game got DelGrosso home. McCartney singled to plate Brisbin with the final tally of the inning.
“The guys really started to swing the bats and get some good hits,” commented Martin Oil manager Ed Davis.
Martin Oil wasn’t done yet however. Up 11-2, the visitors loaded the bases in the top of the sixth and then scored three more runs in the seventh to set the final score.
In the sixth, Kenawell walked and Graham looped a base hit that just fell in for a single to right. Brisbin walked with two outs, but Corporal Miller reliever Tim Frederick got out ofd the inning without any damage.
McCartney belted his third hit and second double to begin the seventh. Plummer was safe when Corporal tried to get McCartney going to third on Plummer’s grounder and didn’t get anybody. Plummer stole second base to put runners at second and third. McCartney scored and Plummer moved up to third on a wild pitch. After Alley was hit by a pitch, Drost singled home Plummer and Kenawell scored Alley with an RBI ground out.
“The guys started to come around and play a real nice ballgame,” said Davis. “Chris Alley pitched a beautiful four-hitter for us. Kyle Drost had a nice game at the plate. Kenawell did a good job, Cubby McCartney had three big hits for us tonight, Plummer had a couple more. Matt Albright had that big double and a couple RBI early on. It was just a good all-around effort, good solid defensive game. That’s what we keep preaching-defense and pitching, and hopefully the hitting will keep coming.”
Martin Oil is back in action on Monday hosting this same Corporal Miller team on Monday at Bellwood. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Martin Oil 14 Corporal Miller 2
MARTIN OIL – Beech, rf, 2-1-0; DelGrosso, 3b, 3-1-0; Brisbin, 2b, 3-3-1; Albright, c, 3-0-1; McCartney, 1b, 5-2-3; Plummer, 3b-rf, 5-1-2; Alley, p, 4-1-0; Drost, ss, 4-1-2; Kenawell, lf, 3-2-2; Graham, cf, 2-2-1. TOTALS 34-14-12.
CORPORAL MILLER – Vogel, p-cf, 3-0-2; Henderson, ss, 3-0-0; Gaeto, rf, 2-0-0; Max. Riley, rf, 1-0-0; Criste, 3b, 3-1-0; Sisto, 1b, 3-0-0; Burns, 2b, 3-0-0; Wombacher, c, 1-0-0; Matt Riley, c, 2-0-0; Gehl, cf, 1-0-0; Frederick, p, 2-0-1; Slowik, lf, 1-1-1; Mi. Riley, lf, 1-0-0. TOTALS 26-2-4.
Martin Oil 110 540 3 14-12-1.
Corporal Miller 001 100 0 2-4-5.
2B: McCartney 2, Albright 1.
RBI: Brisbin 2, Albright 2, Plummer 2, McCartney 1, Drost 1, Kenawell 1, Vogel 1.
SO: Alley 6, Frederick 2.
BB: Vogel 4, Frederick 2.
WP: Alley LP: Vogel.
