East Scarlets: Fast Start But End Up Short at State Baseball
The East Scarlets made their second appearance in three years at the State High School Baseball Tournament, but came up short to Iowa City West in their first round game.
Like sprinters the East High Scarlets broke from the starting gate of last night’s state quarterfinal baseball game against Iowa City West at Principal Park.
Connor Enochs swatted the first pitch of the game into left for a base hit. Jeremy Bentley singled to right. Then Chino Alcala thumped a double into the gap in right-center and quicker than you can say “Play ball!” underdog East was in front 2-0.
In the top of the 3rd Jaylin James drew a two-out walk, stole 2nd and came home on a run-scoring hit by Keagan Dolphin and the lead grew to 3-0.
Meanwhile the crafty southpaw Bentley was confounding the Trojan hitters with his sorcerer’s bag of breaking stuff. He mowed down the lineup first time through, retiring the first nine batters he faced. But whatever spell he’d cast until that point was broken in the top of the 4th. Baseball’s really not a sprinter’s game.
Three singles loaded the bases before anybody was out. Then an infield dribbler was fielded by first baseman Alcala who had to rush his throw home to James in hopes of a force out. James couldn’t handle the low throw cleanly and the shutout was gone. A booming triple to the wall in center then cleared the bases and opened the floodgates.
The final score of 11-3 was misleading but that kind of figured on a night when the team from the east was West and the team from right here in Des Moines was designated the visitor. Maybe frequent visitor would make more sense. Despite the defeat the Scarlets were making their second trip to the state tournament in three seasons. You know what they say about third times.
