Collinsville Cardinals Pitches Themselves Past Duncan

The Cardinals’ Randy Rogers struck out 10 hitters to help his team advance in the state tournament.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 5:38 pm

By: News On 6

Collinsville Cardinals Pitches Themselves Past Duncan

Originally Published: May 12, 2010 6:54 PM CDT

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Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Collinsville Cardinals pitcher Randy Rogers pitched himself out of a seventh-inning jam to beat the Duncan Demons 7-4 and advance in the Class 5A State tournament.

The senior found himself in a 3-2 count with the bases loaded, needing just one more out to end the game. He had opened his final inning by giving up a home run to Duncan’s Dylan Lunke for the Demon’s second run of the game.

The tension grew when Duncan’s Kale Thaxton singled to left field, followed by a successful bunt by Christian Thaxton. The pressure continued to mount when Rogers walked Tyler Wilkins to load the bases.

Rogers faced Michael Rice, who had struggled at the plate all day. The count was 1-1 when Rice made contact with Rogers’ pitch, sending the line drive to left field as two Demons reached for two runs.

With Rice on first and Wilkins on second, the Cardinals decided to intentionally walk Hunter Green, who went two-for-three, including a single and double.

Randal Snider stepped up to bat with the bases loaded.

Rogers first two pitches were outside the zone. He managed to throw one strike before launching another ball, making the count 3-2. The last throw made contact with Snider’s bat, chipping it to Rogers back at the mound.

Rogers snatched the ball up, firing it to first for the out and the win. He threw 126 pitches, struck out 10 hitters and allowed only three walks.

Teammate Jose Olazagasti helped offensively, hitting two-for-four on the day, including two doubles. His first came in the first inning, earning the Cardinals the first run of the game. Just two batters later, teammate Kraig Kelley hit a line drive to center field for another double, sending Olazagasti home for the inning’s second run.

Collinsville put up two more unanswered runs in the bottom of the third when Peter Rodriguez roped a line drive down the right field line for a double, sending Olazagasti home. Rogers singled to center two batters later to send Rodriguez home for a 4-0 lead.

Rodriguez hit his second double of the game in the bottom of the fourth, sending Brant Werdel home for the 5-0 lead.

The Cardinals’ defense helped Rogers out on the mound in the top of the fifth. Duncan’s Chris Gilbert hit a line drive to Collinsville’s first baseman, which tried to dive for the ball, missing it by inches.

The Cardinals will face the Bishop Kelley Comets Thursday at 4 p.m.