Jags capitalize on Truman mistakes

Oh, those bases on balls. And errors, too.
Blue Springs South used an 11-hit attack, 10 walks and five errors for a 16-8 victory over host Truman Wednesday.
Truman’s fifth error took the Patriots out of contention.
Ian Barker retired the first two batters in the sixth inning. But two walks and a dropped fly ball in right field opened the gates to seven unearned runs and a safe 16-8 lead for Blue Springs South.
Kellen Bartlett powered the Jaguars (17-3) with two singles, a two-run homer and four RBIs.
“I’m doing all right,” said Bartlett. “It was big win. We are seeded No. 1 in our district and they are seeded No. 1 in their district. We may see them again.”
Jeff Lusardi singled and doubled with three RBIs for South, Chanze Mason and Robbie Payton each had two RBIs and Riley Reynolds contributed two hits.
Every South starter scored at least one run and all but one had a hit.
The Patriots (15-9) had battled back from 8-2 and 9-4 deficits to pull within 9-8 in the bottom of the fifth. Truman, after two outs, used five consecutive hits and an error to score four runs before South opened it up in the sixth.
“If we played our normal game, we could have won,” said Joe Ruhlman, who had three hits to lead Truman’s nine-hit attack. “Too many errors.”
Ruhlman singled up the middle twice and beat out an infield roller and drove in two runs.
“It was nice hitting up the middle,” he said. “I felt good (at the plate).”
Mike King and Tyler Scott each doubled with two RBIs and Barker hit a two-run homer for the Patriots.
Truman starter Chris Booth walked the first two batters he faced and both scored, giving South a lead it never relinquished. Of the 10 walks issued by Truman’s pitchers, five came around to score.
Austin Rodriguez pitched the first four innings for the win.
“He struggled early,” South coach Richard Wood said of Rodriguez. “It was the first time he had pitched in a week and a half because of the way the games were stacked.
“I’m not sure either team played their best game. I think both teams were worried about the weather. We got some timely hits.”
Truman coach John Eglich was not pleased with his team’s struggles.
“Two many walks, too many errors, too many unearned runs,” he said. “We get to within 9-8 and the two-out error leads to seven unearned runs. You can’t beat anyone doing that.”