‘YOU’VE GOT TO BOW YOUR NECK’ …
ELI KRIES, LOGAN JOHNSON GUIDE PURPLES PAST SPARTANS, 5-4
Bowling Green High School’s Eli Kries embraced the moment.
The Purples were counting on their senior right-hander to keep them out of an 0-and-2 hole in the KHSAA’s ultracompetitive 14th District, and they were playing on their home turf, Harold J. Stihl Field, before a big crowd on a pleasant Tuesday night.
South Warren opened the series with an 8-5 victory on Monday night, when the Purples struggled to throw strikes while committing three critical errors. Another loss to the Spartans would have left Bowling Green behind South Warren AND Greenwood in the 14th District standings, a six-game sample that serves as a precursor to the district tournament at BGHS in mid-May.
Pressure? What pressure?
“I didn’t have a problem with (South) hitting the ball,” Kries said after the Purples’ tense 5-4 victory over their crosstown rival. “We’ve got the best defensive team in the state.”
BY TEAMMATES LOGAN JOHNSON (LEFT)
AND GRAYSON NEWMAN.
TO A QUICK 2-0 LEAD
IN THE FIRST INNING …
WITH TWO RUNS IN THE BOTTOM HALF.
Kries worked six solid innings before handing the ball to BGHS teammate Logan Johnson, a junior outfielder who took the mound for the seventh. Johnson issued a walk to the Spartans’ Tucker Sears to lead off the inning, but retired the next three batters to earn the save and give the Purples some momentum heading into Friday’s home game against Franklin-Simpson.
Bowling Green improved to 11-7 overall while the eighth-ranked Spartans dropped to 15-3. It was South’s first loss since an 11-1 setback against Pace High School on its Spring Break trip to the Florida Panhandle two weeks ago.
For the Purples, the lesson was simple. Throw strikes, make the routine plays, understand the task at hand.
“(Kries) pounded the zone,” BGHS coach Nathan Isenberg said. “Last week, Eli had an absolute masterpiece at Glasgow. It was like 90 percent first-pitch strikes … He fills it up, he’s got movement. He’s just made for pitching.”
TO 11-7 OVERALL WITH THE WIN.
Bowling Green twice battled back from two-run deficits Tuesday night. The Purples collected nine hits against South Warren pitchers Austin Allen and Griffin Rardin, none of them for extra bases, but they certainly made them count.
Bowling Green grabbed its first lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, when third baseman Landon Gilbert delivered a run-scoring single to the right side, followed by Grayson Newman’s RBI ground ball that scored leadoff man Evan Schallert.
That gave Kries a 5-4 lead, and the senior right-hander induced a ground ball from South’s Grey Pearson that resulted in a 4-6-3 double play to retire the side. BGHS shortstop Evan Schallert started a 6-3 double play to end the top of the fifth.
“I was kinda surprised I could go that long,” Kries said. “I’ve only pitched a couple games until tonight, but it’s a big win for us. It kind of sets the tone for our next couple games.”
TO FRANKLIN-SIMPSON ON FRIDAY.
‘OUR GUYS KNOW HOW TO BATTLE.’
Bowling Green had dropped four of six games heading into the rematch with the Spartans, and nothing went right for the Purples on Monday night at South Warren Ballpark. Logan Johnson earned his second save of the season, retiring the Spartans’ Griffin Rardin on a ground ball to the shortstop to end the game.
“Coach (Isenberg) told me I was going in after Eli finished the sixth,” Johnson said. “I just took it one pitch at a time. Trust the fastball, and let my defense take care of it.”
Kries remained unbeaten in three decisions while starting pitcher Austin Allen (3-2) took the loss for the Spartans.
“We’ve played in a lot of close games,” Isenberg said. “Our guys know how to battle. You’ve got to bow your neck, you’ve got 36 regular-season games.”
Junior third baseman Landon Gilbert led the Purples at the plate, collecting three hits in four at bats. Senior shortstop Evan Schallert also went 3-for-4, scoring twice, including the go-ahead run in the fourth.
Isenberg has a senior-laden team, with his elder son, Drew, doubling as a left-handed pitcher and outfielder. Senior infielder Luke Idlett got a late start, because of the Purples’ success on the basketball court, and injuries have limited the contributions of several others, including juniors Dru Jones and James Yarbrough.
BGHS senior outfielder Grayson Newman said the Purples were pressing in Game One at South Warren, and that playing at home gave them a sense of confidence that they needed.
“We played like we were tight at their place,” Newman said. “We did some extra work, defensively, before we took BP (batting practice) … I think we relaxed a little bit, and we were ready to play.”
South Warren visits Logan County (13-5 overall) on Thursday evening, and the Spartans will be at home to resume 14th District play against Greenwood (16-4, 2-0) on Monday.
IN DISTRICT PLAY NEXT WEEK.
SEEMED TO BE ENJOYING THEMSELVES …
KNEW PIPER BY NAME.
TO A FACE LIKE THAT …