SOFTBALL: Stevenson stumps Falcons in ASA State Championship

The Falcons started this past weekend's ASA Men's Fastpitch Open State Tournament with three convincing victories, but couldn't close the deal on Sunday, falling twice to the state champion Cerro Gordo Broncos, 3-1 and 3-2.

Unlike in the 8-1 victory the Falcons scored over the Broncos on Saturday night in the winner's bracket final, Cerro Gordo had pitching ace Brent Stevenson on the rubber for both games on Sunday, and Pinckneyville's offense struggled to make solid contact against the ASA Hall-of-Fame hurler.

"Very frustrating day for us Sunday," said Falcons player-coach Eric Saunders. "We were in the driver's seat having to lose twice but that's the way it went. We had some missed opportunities to get the job done at the plate. We just couldn't string hits together or get a big one at the right time."

Pinckneyville had a 1-0 lead in the first championship match-up, scoring on an error in the top of the fourth inning. Saunders reached on an error and stole second in front of an intentional pass to Daniel Eisenhauer, then Matt Mason grounded to third where Saunders was forced out. A wild throw allowed Taylor Beninati - running for Eisenhauer - to score all the way from first base. Mason attempted to score as well on a wild throw home, but was tagged out to end the inning.

Cerro Gordo struck back quickly. In the bottom of the fourth, another ASA Hall-of-Famer, David Boys, cranked a solo homer off of Troy Dowen to tie the game at a run apiece.

Pinckneyville stranded base runners in the fifth and sixth innings, and the missed opportunities would come back to haunt them. With two on and one out in the bottom of the sixth after an intentional walk to Boys, tournament MVP Tim Highley smacked a two-run triple to put the Broncos ahead to stay. Stevenson, later named the event's Most Valuable Pitcher, worked a 1-2-3 seventh to finish off a two-hitter.

Bryant Shute (1-3, SB) and Drew Dudek (1-2) had the only hits for Pinckneyville. Downen threw well in the circle, but took the loss with three earned runs allowed on five hits, a walk and a hit batter with three strikeouts.

Just like game one, game two of the championship round was scoreless through three innings. But in the bottom of the fourth, Highley struck again, this time against Bryant Hale. Just like in game one, Highley connected for a two-run triple following an intentional walk to Boys, and the Broncos led 2-0.

"We decided we weren't going to let Boys beat us and unfortunately (Highley) did twice," Saunders said.

The Falcons still had some life left, however. Shute singled to start the top of the sixth before Hayden Hicks reached on an error and Beninati came in to run for him. John Kiselewski bunted both runners over for Saunders to pick up an RBI on a grounder, which also advanced Beninati to third. Mason followed with a hard-hit come-backer to Stevenson, who couldn't get a handle on the ball as Beninati raced home with the tying run.

Highley wasn't done hurting the Falcons just yet, though. With runners on first and third, Hale got Boys to pop up to shortstop for the second out, only for Highley to deliver the go-ahead RBI on a base hit moments later.

As much as Highley's bat killed Pinckneyville, Stevenson's arm was just as damaging. The Falcons mustered only six hits against him in two games on Sunday, and none of their three combined runs were earned.

"Stevenson is who he is for a reason," said Saunders. "You aren't going to put a lot of crooked numbers on the board against him. When you get a chance to score against him you better do it or its gonna be a long day. Not many guys can hold us to 3 runs over 14 innings but he was able to that and you just have to tip your cap."

The lack of offense spoiled another solid effort from a Falcons pitcher, as B. Hale gave up three earned runs on four hits and two walks, fanning three, but getting tagged with a loss.

"Bryant and Troy threw their guts out," said Saunders. "They were as good as anyone this weekend. Heck of an effort. We just couldn't get the runs across for them."

Shute (2-3), Dudek (1-3, SB) and Steve Linton (1-3) had hits for Pinckneyville in the championship finale.

Prior to those two games, the Falcons' offense was red hot. They hammered Cerro Gordo 8-1 in five innings on Saturday evening to put themselves into good position on Sunday.

Shute (1-2, 2 SB), Hicks (1-2, 2 RBI), Eisenhauer (2-3, HR, RBI), Kiselewski (1-1, RBI) and Garrick Hale (1-2) hit safely against Broncos pitcher T.J. Dobson. B. Hale allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out a pair as Pinckneyville's pitcher.

The Falcons finished off B&K Tree Service 10-1 in six innings earlier on Saturday, belting 14 hits in the process. Each of the first four hitters in the Pinckneyville lineup had at least two hits, and Downen was strong in the circle with one earned run allowed on five hits, a walk and a hit batter with one strikeout.

Shute (2-4, RBI, 3B, SB), Saunders (3-4, 2 RBI, 3B), Hicks (2-4, RBI, 2B), Eisenhauer (2-3, 3 RBI, 3B, HBP), Mason (1-4, RBI), Kiselewski (2-3, RBI), G. Hale (1-2) and Dudek (1-3) supplied the offense for the Falcons against B&K.

The tournament began for the Falcons with a dramatic 5-4 walk-off win over Donnewald Budweiser on Friday night. After a questionable call on what was ruled a home run in the sixth tied the game up at 4-4 for Donnewald, Pinckneyville got the run they needed in the bottom of the seventh on a bases-loaded fielder's choice RBI by Linton to bring in Beninati - running for Eisenhauer, who had led off the frame with a double.

Eisenhauer (3-4, 2B) and Hicks (2-4) accounted for five of the Falcons' nine hits in the opener. Shute (1-3, HBP, SB), Kiselewski (1-2, RBI, 2B), G. Hale (1-3) and Adam Barczewski (1-2, RBI, HBP) also hit safely for Pinckneyville.

"Our depth paid off for us this weekend," Saunders said. "Alan Engelhardt made a couple of big defensive plays in left field, Taylor Beninati came in with some speed on the bases, and Adam Barczewski and C.J. Opp came through in big at bats in key situations Friday night. They never complain about playing time and always show up and do anything that's asked of them. They're a big part of our team."

The Falcons (22-12) were 9-8 overall after the Kelso Klassic back in June, but since then have 13 wins in their last 17 games including tournament wins at the Black & Gold Classic and Wooden Bat State Championships. They'll travel to Moline, Ill. this week for the NAFA "A-Major" World Series beginning with a 3:00 p.m. game this Thursday against the Kansas City Astros.