Show Me League Recaps: July 6th

Midwest Nationals vs. Springfield Cobras

Kane Carves, As Nats Earn Second Straight Victory over Cobras

By: Adam Dawson

Game Preview- The Nats will look to continue their win streak, as they blanked the Route 66 Stars earlier in the day on Tuesday, July 6th.

Game Recap- Timothy Glenn took the ball for the Cobras in the final game of Show Me League action on Tuesday, July 6th. Glenn had some bad luck from the start, as Sawyer Smith reached first base on an error. Glenn luckily recovered, getting AJ Craft to ground into a double play, as a pair of groundouts ended the top of the first.

Thomas Kane was the starting pitcher for the Midwest Nationals. Kane struck out two out of the first three hitters he faced, quickly retiring the top of the Cobras order.

Nats Jake Skaggs led off the top of the second with a bang, as he tripled, setting up a great opportunity to put runs on the board. Thomas Emerich followed up his teammate's triple with an RBI single, resulting in the first run for the Nationals. Luke Lockhard and Noah Argenta flied out after the flurry, and Dylan Thompson struck out to end the top of the frame.

Thomas Kane once again struck out two out of the three hitters he faced in the bottom of the second. Joe Reid went down swinging, while Turner Jackson went down looking. Kane had four quick strikeouts through his first two innings of work.

Timothy Glenn trotted out to the mound in the third, looking to keep the deficit at one run. After retiring the first two batters in the top half of the frame, Sawyer Smith singled, while AJ Craft walked. Glenn was in a sticky situation and was one batter away from getting out of the frame without allowing any damage. Carson Shaver decided to open the floodgates, as he plated two runs on his own, making it a three-run advantage for the Midwest Nationals. Shaver scored later in the inning. Thomas Emerich was walked, as Shaver was safe at the plate, as some risky baserunning paid off for the Nats.

Kane’s strikeout total continued to grow as he struck out Tommy Carr and Hunter O’Neil consecutively to begin the bottom of the third. The inning stalled briefly, as Kane allowed the next two Cobras to reach base on a walk and a hit by pitch. Kane walked Drew Townsend to load the bases, but the threat would soon end when Jackson Berney grounded into a force out.

What an eventful end to the third as Kane got out of the bases-loaded jam to keep the Cobras off the scoreboard through three innings.

Timothy Glenn remained out there for the fourth despite giving up four runs. Glenn struck out two in the fourth, while only allowing Luke Lockhart to reach base on an error from Tommy Carr.

Thomas Kane must have loved striking out two batters in each of the first four innings, as he tallied eight strikeouts through the first 12 outs. Kane continued to dominate through four innings, while giving up no hits in the process.

Jacob Martin relieved Timothy Glenn in the fifth. Glenn gave up four runs, while also allowing four hits.

After a Jayton Cromer flyout, the Nats were on the attack again and Martin was in trouble. Sawyer Smith doubled, while AJ Craft singled. Carson Shaver singled to load the bases with only one out in the fifth. With the bases juiced, Jake Skaggs grounded into a fielder’s choice, where the Cobras were able to get the out at home. The potential offensive attack ended when Thomas Emerich flew out.

A missed opportunity from the Nats gave the Cobras life as both teams headed to the final stretch of the game.

Kynson Michel ended up relieving Thomas Kane in the bottom of the fifth. A questionable decision from the Nats, considering Kane was rolling in this one. Kane’s final stat line was pretty solid: 4 scoreless innings, no hits, and eight strikeouts. Simply a masterful pitching performance from Thomas Kane gave the Nats momentum to finish the game out on a strong note.

Tommy Carr led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, but Michel set down the next three Cobras pretty easily after the hit.

Jacob Martin entered his second relief inning in the top of the sixth. He was greeted with back to back singles from Luke Lockhart and Noah Argenta. To make matters worse, Lockhart advanced to third on a passed ball. Somehow, Martin was able to come away unscathed as he recorded three straight outs to end the top of the sixth.

Carter Campbell relieved Michel in the sixth as he looked to preserve the lead. Landon Kiefer ledoff the inning and tried to get sneaky. He got a bunt down, but it did not work as it resulted in an out. After retiring Drew Townsend, the Cobras attempted a late-game rally. Jackson Berney hit a single and Mason Roehr reached on an error to make the bottom of the sixth interesting. The attempt came up short, as Campbell got Joe Reid to strike out swinging to end the frame.

Evan Smith relieved Jacob Martin in the seventh and final inning. Sawyer Smith and AJ Craft were both hit by the pitch to leadoff the frame, questioning Smith’s control in the beginning of the inning. Carson Shaver reached on a fielder’s choice and ended up advancing to second. Sawyer Smith ended up scoring in the chaotic fielding mess that was the Cobras infield. The downfall continued for Smith, as he once again hit Thomas Emerich, his third hit batter of the inning. Luke Lockhart and Noah Argenta went down quietly to end the Nats seventh.

DJ McNew relieved Carter Campbell to go out and get the possible win for the Nats. Turner Jackson grounded out to leadoff the inning, but Tommy Carr would not go down as easily. Carr singled and ended up stealing second and third. The Cobras made some noise when Thomas Brand singled, plating Carr. The run was the first of the game for the Cobras, but it was not enough as Landon Kiefer flew out to right field to end the game.

The Final Note- Thomas Kane mowed down the Cobras lineup and his performance was the main reason why the Nats came out on top with the victory. As for the Cobras, they will look to regroup and string some wins together, hopefully sooner rather than later.