Nevada Griffons, El Dorado Broncos again split doubleheader

Thursday, June 24, 2004

By Ralph Pokorny

Nevada Daily Mail

Griffons fans who stayed until the final pitch of Wednesday nights double header with the El Dorado Broncos had a chance to watch the Griffons come from behind twice in the second game to beat the Broncos 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning of a scheduled seven inning ball game. The Griffons lost the first game to the Broncos 3-0.

The split moves the Griffons to 11-8 overall and 4-5 in the Jayhawk League, with a 2-3 record with the Broncos.

The Griffons took the scheduled seven-inning game to extra innings when they came from a 3-0 deficit in the fifth inning to tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth inning.

The Broncos were leading 3-0 in the fifth inning when the Griffons put together a walk by Trevor Helms, a single by Quinton Corley, a sacrifice bunt to third base by Elliot Roberts and a ground out to the shortstop to let Helms score cutting the Broncos lead to 3-1.

With the Griffons down two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Quinn Vinze led off for the Griffons with a home run over the 400 foot sign in center field for his fifth homer of the season narrowing the score to 3-2 A walk by Jeff Hiestand, a fielders choice, sacrifice bunt for Nick Shay and an RBI single to right field by Zach Harris let Hiestand, who is surprisingly fast on the base path, score from third to tie the score at 3-3.

Hiestand, a muscular 5'11", 225 pound sophomore from Brigham Young University, said that the only time he can steal bases is if the ball is in the dirt, however, he helps his case by practicing his technique in the outfield nightly after the game as well as running the outfield fence.

When at the end of seven innings the score was tied at 3-3 sending the game to the eighth inning when the Broncos added two runs resulting in the Griffons coming to bat with a 5-3 deficit.

Griffons catcher Beau Shultz grounded out to the catcher and Trevor Helms got on base with a single to third base, stole second and went to third on a passed ball while Ted Wilkie struck out.

With two outs Elliot Roberts was hit by a pitch to get on base and Korey Drew walked. With the bases loaded Griffons designated hitter Mickey Nichols stepped to plate and hit a two RBI single to centerfield to tie the score at 5-5 leaving Drew on third.

Broncos pitcher Brandon Berlett threw a wild pitch to Quinn Vinze allowing Drew to score from third to give the Giffons a 6-5 win.

"We needed this," Griffons head coach Jeff Wells said after the game, adding that it will let the team know that they can come from behind to win against a good team.

The first game was marked by fine performances by both teams' starting pitchers who went the distance throwing for a combined 17 strikeouts, two walks and no hit batters. The Griffons pitcher, Gabe Bueno accounted for eight of the strikeouts and both walks. Jason Bleeker, pitched nine strikeouts.

The Griffons are off today and play a four game series with the Elkhart Dusters this weekend at Lyon Stadium.

The Dusters, 6-7 overall and 4-4 in the conference action lost 13-3 to the Liberal Bee Jays Tuesday night and play the Broncos tonight in El Dorado, Kan.

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