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Independence, MO —
Coach John Eglich’s never-say-die Truman Patriots overcame William Chrisman’s 5-run second inning to claim a 7-5 victory over their Noland Road rival and spoil a sensational pitching debut by Bears freshman Gannon Ogle Wednesday afternoon at Crysler Stadium.
Ogle allowed just three earned runs in six innings, but Truman pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh to earn the victory over the Bears.
“It wasn’t the prettiest win,” Eglich said, “but we’ll take it. (Ogle) was great for Chrisman. There was a small strike zone and he threw a lot of strikes. Our guys just kept chipping away and we found a way to win it.”
Jake Wingo and Lane Titus singled off Ogle in the top of the sixth and scored on three Bears errors to knot the score at 5-all.
Truman (5-2) then won the game in the top of the seventh against reliever R.J. Hedrich when Brian Read doubled and went to third on a ground out by hot-hitting J.T. Hayes, who had two doubles, a single and three RBIs in the game.
Kyle Combs hit a ground ball to short and Read beat the throw home for Truman’s sixth run and Andrew Billingsley followed with an RBI single to give the Pats some breathing room.
Tom Ruddy – who scored two runs, had a single and RBI – came on in relief in the fifth inning and shut down the Bears for the remainder of the game.
Mack Bruce led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, but Taylor Cox followed with a sharply hit ground ball to Truman second baseman Titus, who tagged Bruce and threw to first to complete the double play.
Ruddy struck out the final Bears batter to end the game that was played in a mist for the first five innings.
“The weather was more irritating than anything,” said Ruddy, who allowed just two hits in his three-inning stint. “This was a big win. They’re our biggest rival, and we’ve never lost to them since I’ve been here. We knew if we kept it close we’d have a chance to win.”
The Bears scored five runs in the second inning on six consecutive walks and RBI singles by Bruce and Cox.
“It felt good getting that lead,” said Ogle, the son of Chrisman activities director Dan Ogle. “I just wanted to throw strikes and let my defense take care of things behind me.
Coach John Eglich’s never-say-die Truman Patriots overcame William Chrisman’s 5-run second inning to claim a 7-5 victory over their Noland Road rival and spoil a sensational pitching debut by Bears freshman Gannon Ogle Wednesday afternoon at Crysler Stadium.
Ogle allowed just three earned runs in six innings, but Truman pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh to earn the victory over the Bears.
“It wasn’t the prettiest win,” Eglich said, “but we’ll take it. (Ogle) was great for Chrisman. There was a small strike zone and he threw a lot of strikes. Our guys just kept chipping away and we found a way to win it.”
Jake Wingo and Lane Titus singled off Ogle in the top of the sixth and scored on three Bears errors to knot the score at 5-all.
Truman (5-2) then won the game in the top of the seventh against reliever R.J. Hedrich when Brian Read doubled and went to third on a ground out by hot-hitting J.T. Hayes, who had two doubles, a single and three RBIs in the game.
Kyle Combs hit a ground ball to short and Read beat the throw home for Truman’s sixth run and Andrew Billingsley followed with an RBI single to give the Pats some breathing room.
Tom Ruddy – who scored two runs, had a single and RBI – came on in relief in the fifth inning and shut down the Bears for the remainder of the game.
Mack Bruce led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, but Taylor Cox followed with a sharply hit ground ball to Truman second baseman Titus, who tagged Bruce and threw to first to complete the double play.
Ruddy struck out the final Bears batter to end the game that was played in a mist for the first five innings.
“The weather was more irritating than anything,” said Ruddy, who allowed just two hits in his three-inning stint. “This was a big win. They’re our biggest rival, and we’ve never lost to them since I’ve been here. We knew if we kept it close we’d have a chance to win.”
The Bears scored five runs in the second inning on six consecutive walks and RBI singles by Bruce and Cox.
“It felt good getting that lead,” said Ogle, the son of Chrisman activities director Dan Ogle. “I just wanted to throw strikes and let my defense take care of things behind me.
“I’m really proud of the way I pitched. We wanted to win, and I wanted to do everything I could to help us win. I’m proud of my teammates. They played a great game today even though we lost.”
First-year coach J.R. Wells raved about Ogle’s debut.
“I look at Gannon over there talking to his dad and his family and I can only imagine how proud they are of him,” Wells said after the Bears fell to 0-5. “My wife and I are expecting our first child and I can’t wait to see what it feels like to feel like the Ogle family must feel today.
“Gannon’s not my child, but I couldn’t be any prouder of him. That was his first varsity start, against our biggest rival, and he pitched a great game.”
Hayes continued his hot hitting for the Patriots as he drove home runs in the first, third and fourth innings.
“I’ve never lost to Chrisman and I didn’t want to start today,” said Hayes, a junior third baseman. “We just kept working hard and found a way to win.”
