Bad news, good news for Eagles

When Jake Talamonte felt a sharp pain in his right elbow, the Grain Valley pitcher knew it was time to shut it down.
“I hated to leave the team in that position,” said Talamonte, who turned the game over to Braxton Anthony in the top of the first inning with the bases full of Pleasant Hill Roosters Thursday afternoon at Grain Valley High School. “But when I felt that sharp pain in the back of my elbow, I wasn’t going to take any chances.”
The Roosters had loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter. They managed to score three runs – the only runs of the game – as Pleasant Hill handed the host Eagles a 3-0 Missouri River Valley Conference West setback.
The loss dropped Grain Valley’s overall record to 5-2 and conference mark to 1-1. While his coaches and teammates are concerned about Talamonte, who had rotator cuff surgery on the same arm last year, assistant coach Jim Oliver was raving about Anthony’s performance.
Anthony allowed just two hits, a walk and struck out four in 6 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
“Talk about picking a team up,” said Oliver, filling in for an ill Mark Lyford. “He did a tremendous job. I just told the kids that the defense behind him really played well. But Braxton came in, in a tough situation and pitched great. We couldn’t have asked for him to do anymore than he did.
“While we’re disappointed with the loss and concerned about Jake, Braxton’s performance was a huge bonus. It should give him a lot of confidence the rest of the season and we certainly have confidence in him, too.”
Talamonte struggled the first inning, walking the first two batters and hitting the third. He struck out cleanup hitter Nick Fountain, with a fastball.
That’s when he felt the pain.
“I’d thrown my first slider,” Talamonte said, “and came back with the fastball. I felt this sharp pain, and knew I was done for the day. It doesn’t hurt that much now, but since it’s the same arm I had the surgery on last year, we don’t want to take any chances.”
Anthony came in and walked his first batter, to force a run home, and allowed a two-run single to Spencer Adams.
“I wish I could have gotten out of that first inning without giving them a run,” Anthony said. “But I was really proud of the way the guys played defense behind me. The wind was really blowing and our fielders made some nice plays.
“I’m happy with my overall performance. I just wish they wouldn’t have scored those three runs in the first inning.”
It looked like Grain Valley might get back in the game in the bottom of the inning as Ryan Skinner singled with one out and David Duncan reached on an error.
But Roosters starter Kyle Lindenmeyer got two quick outs to end the threat.
The Eagles lost a scoring opportunity in the third when Anthony led off with a single. With one out, Duncan singled and David Richards hit an opposite-field double.
But the pinch runner for Anthony fell between third and home and was tagged out at the plate.
“We weren’t very patient at the plate,” Oliver said. “And we had a couple of opportunities to score, and didn’t get a big hit when we needed it.
“We just have to hope that Jake’s OK and that Braxton can turn in a few more performances like the one we got today.”