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The Marshfield Blue Jays got a strong pitching performance from senior Justin Drane on his 18th birthday, and offensive production up and down the lineup, earning an 11-5 Central Ozark Conference baseball victory over visiting Buffalo High School on a cold snowy Saturday, April 12, at Ralph Eyler Field.
Justin Drane worked 5 innings with 7 strike outs and no walks to earn the win, allowing just 1 earned run. Shaun Crawford earned the save with 2 innings of hitless relief work, striking out 2 with no walks.
Marshfield improves to 4-5 on the season and 1-3 in the COC with the win.
The Blue Jays struck first when catcher Chris Arnold reached on an error and courtesy runner Shane Harms stole second to start the second inning. With 2 outs, first baseman Tim Ryan belted an RBII double to put Marshfield up 1-0.
Buffalo answered with a run in the third. Adam Paul was hit by a pitch, and with 2 outs, Bison starting pitcher Cody Rosier smacked an RBI double to tie the score.
Rosier struck out 5 and allowed only an unearned run through the first 3 innings of mound work for Buffalo.
But Marshfield sent 11men to the plate in the fourth, scoring 7 runs to take the lead for good.
Shortstop Justin Fraker started the inning with a home run over the right field fence. It was the second homer of the season for Justin Fraker, a right handed hitter taking advantage of the strong wind blowing from the left field corner to the right field corner.
With 1 out, left fielder Nathan VanDiggelen singled and moved to third on a single by designated hitter Shawn Steele. Nathan VanDiggelen scored on a wild pitch while Tim Ryan was working a bases on balls. Shaun Crawford, who started the game at third base for Marshfield, followed with an RBI single. Zach Reed walked. Cameron Keenan drove in a run with a grounder to the right side, and reached on an error. Chris Bigley followed with a single, driving Cameron Keenan to third. Cameron Keenan would score on a wild pitch, putting Marshfield on top 8-1.
Buffalo had a big 5th inning, getting a single from Adam Paul and the help of a 2-out error to set up a 2-run home run to dead center field by Cody Rosier. Ty Cobb and Duane Atteberry also scored in the inning for the Bison, cutting the Jays lead to 8-5.
Marshfield scored in the 5th when Shawn Steele walked and scored on Tim Ryan’s second RBI double of the contest.
The Jays added 2 more runs in the 6th when Justin Fraker reached safely and scored on an RBI double by Nathan VanDiggelen. Shawn Steele followed with an RBI single.
Each man in the Jays lineup produced:
Cameron Keenan reached safely twice, stole a base, drove in a run and scored; Chris Bigley singled; Justin Fraker homered, scored twice and drove in a run; Chris Arnold reached safely and his courtesy runner scored; Nathan VanDiggelen singled, doubled, scored twice and drove in a run; Shawn Steele had 2 singles, walked, drove in a run, stole a base and scored twice; Tim Ryan had a pair of RBI doubles, walked and scored a run; Shaun Crawford singled, walked, drove in a run and scored; Zach Reed singled, walked, stole a base and scored.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Tuesday, playing host to Reeds Spring in another COC contest at Ralph Eyler Field. The varsity will play at 4:30 p.m. followed by the JV.
The Marshfield JV won 7-3 over Buffalo with Shawn Steele getting the pitching win, making it a triple header sweep in the snow for the Blue Jays.
