Parkland High School Baseball

After three innings of play today against Allen, the Parkland Trojans not only came up empty twice when they left the bases loaded in both the 1st and 2nd innings, but also found themselves down by a score of 3-0.  Allen took advantage of a Parkland fielding error in the 3rd inning  and went on to score three unearned runs in the inning.  Parkland could only manage five hits during the game, but took advantage of Allen pitching that struggled with control to hold on for the 8-7 win.  Starting pitcher Alex Flynn worked 4 1/3 innings on the mound allowing 5 runs (2 earned) on six hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.   Zach Merkle (1-for-3, BB) led off the game with a single in the first inning, but he would be stranded with two other base runners in the inning. 

Parkland scored all eight of their runs in the 4th inning.  With Allen scoring three runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to take the 3-0 lead, the Trojans quickly answered in the 4th inning loading the bases with one out.  Rhett Jacoby (1-for-3, BB, run), Brad Vasilik, and Jeff Strisovsky (0-for-1, 3 BB) all reached base on walks.  Chris Rabasco (2-for-3, triple, HBP, 3 RBI, run) then cleared the bases with a triple to deep left field to drive in three runs and tie the game at 3-3.  The next four Parkland batters reached base on walks and hit-by-pitch.  Hudson Rabenold walked and pinch runner Isaac Neal ran for Rabenold.  Neal and Rabasco then executed a double steal to score Rabasco and put the Trojans ahead by a score of 4-3.  Zach Miiller (1-for-2, 2 HBP, run) was then hit by a pitch followed by a walk to Justin Afflerbach and an RBI walk to Alex Flynn (0-for-2, 2 BB, run) to increase Parkland's lead to 5-3.  Miiller then scored on a wild pitch, Afflerbach scored on an Allen fielding error, and Flynn later stole home for the 8-3 Parkland lead.  Parkland did threaten for more runs in the 5th inning, but an inning-ending double play ended the scoring opportunity.

Allen did not go quietly as they collected a total of eight base hits in the game.  In the 5th inning, back-to-back doubles by Allen hitters cut the Trojan lead to 8-4.  Flynn would give way to relief pitcher Evan McAndrew who finished out the 5th inning.  McAndrew worked 2/3 of an inning allowing two earned runs on two hits and one walk and one strikeout.  Allen would go on to score three more runs in the inning to cut Parkland's lead to 8-7 after five innings of play.  The Trojan bats went down quietly in the 6th inning.  Rabasco came on in relief to pitch the 6th inning and earned his first save of the season retiring the side in order with one strikeout.  The game was called due to darkness to give the Trojans the 8-7 win. 

The Parkland Trojans ended their 3-game skid with a non-conference win over visiting Pleasant Valley by a score of 4-0.  Starting pitcher Connor Higgins was outstanding on the mound blanking Pleasant Valley through six innings of work.  Pleasant Valley did not get a base runner past second base until the 6th inning when they put runners on second and third, but Higgins quickly ended the threat with a strikeout to end the inning.  In his six shutout innings on the mound, Higgins allowed three base hits, all singles, walked three, and had nine strikeouts.

The Trojans went up 1-0 in the 1st inning when Zach Merkle (0-for-1, two HBP, two runs) was hit by a pitch to reach first base.  After stealing second base, Merkle scored the first run of the game on a RBI double by Chris Rabasco (3-for-3, two doubles, 3 RBI, run).  After going down quietly in the second and third innings, Parkland took a 2-0 lead in the 4th inning when Rabasco hit his second double of the game to lead off the inning.  With two outs, Justin Afflerbach (1-for-2, RBI) came through with an RBI single to score Rabasco.  Parkland got more breathing room in the 5th inning when Brad Vasilik (1-for-2, run) led off with a single and Merkle got hit with another pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs.  Jeff Strisovsky executed a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out.  Rabasco then singled for his third hit of the day to drive in two more runs and put the Trojans in the lead by a score of 4-0 after five innings of play.

With the pitching of Higgins and reliever Evan McAndrew, the four runs were more than enough for the Trojans to earn their 10th win of the season.  McAndrew came on to pitch the 7th inning and promptly struck out the side in order, throwing only 11 pitches.