Seven Lakes stumps 'Birds
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Bat Speed Landon Appling hits a fly ball to left field. Later in the game he connected for a triple.

El Campo was officially eliminated from the playoff picture Friday night in a loss to Seven Lakes.

The Spartans escaped with a 4-2 win over the Ricebirds. The 'Birds played their last home game of the season Tuesday night against the first-place Lamar Consolidated Mustangs. Friday is El Campo's final game of the year at Rosenberg to close out the series with Lamar.

After the Seven Lakes loss, Head Baseball Coach Kerry Brandl gathered his team and recognized their tough play.

"I just said I didn't think it was a lack of effort," Brandl said. "I thought we played hard. 'Keep this in perspective. I know we make a big deal out of it, but it's not life or death. Let's enjoy the weekend and come back and work Monday. Let's play two games next week and have some pride.' They'll be ready to play against Lamar."

Among El Campo's solid efforts was Andrew Kinder's pitching.

After a rocky start, Kinder got into a groove and was practically dominant on the mound. Seven Lakes earned a run in the first and two in the second, but in the remaining five innings, Kinder held the Spartans to two hits and one run while striking out four.

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley A Determined Look Holden Whitley makes a warm-up throw from third base.

"I thought after the second inning, he threw really well," Brandl said. "We gave up three early and then a run on an error (in the sixth inning). I thought he pitched well. He had some troubles early, but then he settled in."

After Seven Lakes took a 30 lead in the first two innings, El Campo earned hits, but not enough to fully challenge the Spartans.

Possibly the most frustrating inning came in the bottom of the fourth. Bryan Skow led off the inning with a triple. Through the next five at-bats, he never left third base.

Matthew Hamman tried to bring him home, but hit into a fielder's choice to the shortstop. Seven Lakes played the ball well to keep Skow on third while throwing Hamman out at first.

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Hefty Heave Chris Quinn makes a quick throw from left field.

Kinder drew a walk in the next at-bat and put runners at first and third. The fourth atbat was a strikeout, but Bryce Skow came up and loaded the bases. The right fielder was struck by a wild pitch and walked over to first.

Holden Whitley came up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs and tried to earn the first Ricebird RBI. He hit a pop-up to third and the inning ended.

"We've had chances all year," Brandl said. "We haven't been blown out of any game. We've been close in every district ballgame that we've played. We're giving ourselves a chance to win, but we're not getting the big hit when we need it."

Later in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Ricebirds came through with a pair of runs.

Tyler Socha led off the inning with a single, but was put out at second in the next at-bat. Blake Korenek reached first on the fielder's choice to avoid the double play.

A deep hit by Landon Appling sent Korenek scrambling. Appling pulled out a triple and Korenek reached home to cut Seven Lakes' lead to 3-1.

Bryan Skow followed with a blast to left field and Appling scored.

Hamman struck out and Kinder walked to put two runners on base, but the next atbat was a fielder's choice out by Taylor Graham to end the inning.

El Campo had its most successful outing to cut the lead to 3-2. Seven Lakes earned another run in the top of the sixth on an error to move ahead 4-2 and held the Ricebirds off in the last two innings for the win.