Game 1: Rangers lose disappointing pitchers’ duel as Saylor goes distance allowing only one run

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Brandon Saylor toed the mound for the Rangers and started off slowly as the first two batters made it aboard via a hit by pitch and a single. That single put the Boars in a threatening position with runners on first and third, but luckily Saylor induced a double play which gave the Boars an early 1-0 lead. Saylor struck out the next batter and the Rangers were ready for their first AB. Both Nick Gilmore and Rob Pederson got out quickly which made way for the two Badin High School alumni rookies A.J. Enginger and Ryan Kirkendall. Both walked in their first Ranger AB’s but the inning ended with a strikeout. Saylor dialed in and went 1-2-3 in the top of the second though Boar starter Brenton Cox matched that performance inducing a fly out and striking out two.

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Going into the top of the third inning with the small lead of 1-0 in the Boars’ favor, the first batter got a free pass via a base on balls then stole second a few pitches later. After a flyout and a strikeout, once again the runner stole third and on an errant throw by Gilmore, was able to come home and extend the lead 2-0.  Going into the bottom of the third, Brent Cox again blanked the Rangers picking up 2 more strikeouts giving him 6 K’s in only 3 innings. Luckily, Saylor was able to match Cox inducing three groundballs, one of which was a beautiful play by rookie A.J. Enginger. Starting the bottom of the fourth, the Rangers finally got a little momentum. Pederson started off with a base knock and reached second base on a wild pitch. Kirkendall advanced Rob via reaching by error and finally the Rangers looked to capitalize with runners on 1st and 3rd with only one out. Sadly, a groundout to the pitcher and a K killed the Ranger momentum and ended the inning with a 2-run Boars lead.

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The top of the fifth rolled around just for Saylor to continue his dominance. Starting the inning with a groundout, the first base runner in 2 innings made it to first via a walk. After an outfield miscue and runners on first and second, Saylor took matters into his own hands and struck out the next two batters. Time was ticking down for the Rangers and the bottom of the fifth started very poorly with 2 K’s in a row. Rangers caught some steam with a Jaret Quinn hit by pitch, Mike Seebock reaching on error and a Liam Musgrove walk, the bases were quickly loaded for leadoff Nick Gilmore. After getting down 0-2 very quickly, Gilmore took his patented “choke up to the barrel” two-strike approach and took a pitch off the hands, granting him an RBI and giving the Boars only a 2-1 lead. A flyout ended the inning but the Rangers were hot.

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With Saylor still in the game, he continued his streak of allowing no runs with the first batter striking out, the lead off man came to the plate. After the leadoff man forced a walk, Saylor struck out the next hitter and induced a flyout. With the 3-hole hitter leading off for the Rangers things were looking up, though again Rangers quickly got down to two outs. Nolte was hit by a pitch, Kyle Moyer got his first hit of the day and Noah Schleinitz walked giving another bases loaded 2-out scenario. Sadly, this ended poorly with a backwards K sending the Rangers out to the field for defense. Going into the top of the 7th inning Lt. Colonel Jimmy Herold led off for the Boars and Saylor was able to induce two ground balls in a row. The Rangers came to offense one more time and Jaret Quinn started off with a double down the 3rd base line. Two strike outs later and leadoff hitter Gilmore came to the plate looking to be the hero But alas, he flew out to the left fielder giving game one to the Boars after Saylor pitched a complete game 1-hitter with 9 K’s.

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Game 2: Rookies Prevail, Nolte Doubles Twice, Rangers Earn A Win In Game Two

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Facing the Boars rookie sidewinder, the Rangers got off to a hot start. Rob Pederson doubled to left centerfield and was promptly driven in by the Thomas More Saint AJ Enginger on a hard hit line drive over the second baseman’s head. After his base knock, AJ stole second and third, prompting Cooper Nolte to double over the left fielder’s head giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Kyle Moyer then grounded out though the Rangers did win the inning as starter Kenny Owens got off to a hot start shutting the Boars down and earning one strikeout in the bottom of the first inning. In the top of the second, Boars starter Bower settled in and went 1-2-3. In the bottom of the inning, the Boars started off well with the leadoff hitter Ryan Griffis singling up the middle. Two ground outs later and the inning was looking up for Kenny but a hard hit liner through the 5-6 hole put the Boars on the board with a 2-1 deficit. In the top of the third inning, Gilmore finally broke his slump but it would not amount to any runs for the Rangers as the Boars pitcher made quick work of the remaining Ranger hitters.

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The bottom of the third was uneventful. However, the top of the fourth started the Ranger fireworks. The Badin boys A.J. Enginger and Ryan Kirkendall doubled back-to-back driving the ball opposite field over the head of the centerfielder, scoring A.J and allowing Ryan to earn his first hit as a Dayton Ranger. Cooper got a pass to first via a hit by pitch, stole second on the next pitch and runners were in scoring position with Schleinitz at the plate. Noah did exactly what he should and hit a ground ball to the second baseman, notching the score 4-1.

 

Veteran Joe Becker toed the mound for the bottom of the fourth inning and used his whole arsenal to hold the Boars to a run which was earned though bloop hits were a factor. Uneventful until the bottom of the 6th, Hunter Savenak took to the mound to do what he does. After giving up two hits with runners on 2nd and 3rd, Hunter struck out Jackson Forbes which stranded the runners and solidified the 4-2 lead in the top of the 7th. Kirkendall led off the inning with an infield single then, on a 1-2 count after 3 foul balls, Cooper Nolte drove a ball over the left fielder’s head, one-hopping the fence giving the RBI opportunity to Kyle Moyer which he took advantage of with a groundout. Finally, to round off the scoring fest, Kujo got his first hit of the day with a ball the left fielder lost in the sun, scoring Cooper and giving a 4-run cushion in the bottom of the 7th. At last, Kraynak doing as Kraynak does, he hog-tied the remaining Boars striking out two and giving the Rangers their 6th win of the year.

 

Saylor’s outstanding pitching performance: 7IP, 1H, 1ER, 4BB, 9Ks

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