Document text
CLEAR Temp: 59 °F Wind: NE at 6 mph Monday, May 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 16, 2003 Phoenix catcher Mark Emerson, left, applies a tag on Mazama�s Eric Brosterhous at home plate to end a five-run, fourth-inning surge by the Vikings. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Vikes supply eye-opener Mazama stakes its claim as the team to beat in the Skyline Conference with a rout of Phoenix By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune TALENT — The gap between Mazama and the rest of the Skyline Conference appeared Tuesday to be as vast as the gray skies hovering over the Rogue Valley. The Vikings, ranked seventh in the Class 3A state baseball coaches poll, improved to 6-0 in the Skyline with a 16-1 pasting of Phoenix at Hagler-James Park. Propelled by an outstanding senior class, Mazama is attempting to put the wraps on a triple crown this school year — winning the Skyline in football, boys basketball and baseball. Judging by Tuesday’s performance, the Vikings (8-3 overall) look set to do just that. "We’ve got a bunch of seniors this year," said Vikings head coach Jeff Sturgeon, whose team was second in the conference at 17-4 last spring. "A lot of these guys have played for three or four years on the varsity already. "And this is a big win for us, on the road and the conditions aren’t the best. ... We know we got some breaks here or there, but we put the ball in play and got the job done." That they did, outplaying the Pirates (3-5, 2-2 Skyline) in all facets of the game. "We fell on our face," said Joe Hagler, Phoenix’s 18th-year head coach. Mazama began its onslaught in the top of the first inning, as Neil Snell and Tyler Conner slapped consecutive singles to start the game and came around to score despite nary a hit the rest of the frame. That storyline would continue throughout the pitching day for Pirates ace Brady Rhodes, who was plagued by the insurmountable combination of trouble finding the umpire’s zone, poor defense behind him and Vikings tenacity, both at the plate and on the basepaths. The senior left-hander didn’t have his best stuff, and Mazama tagged him for eight runs in three-plus innings, accumulating seven hits and three walks. "Against a team like this, and that’s a very veteran team, you just can’t make mistakes," Hagler said. "They’re kids who aren’t gonna strike out very much, so you can’t get behind in the count and let them get their pitch. And that was another big mistake we made. "They played smart, and that’s how Mazama’s always played." Mike Butcher started and pitched effectively for the Vikings, throwing strikes and letting his defense — which was error-free and at times brilliant — do the work behind him. The junior right-hander went six innings, allowing one run, eight hits and no walks while striking out four. "He’s the kind of guy that I like to throw over in the valley, because he’s not gonna strike guys out, but he’s gonna get ‘em to hit fly balls ... and the ball doesn’t carry as good here," Sturgeon said. Mazama’s 15-hit attack was paced by Justin Nelson, who rapped three singles, drove in two runs and scored twice. Eric Brosterhous drilled two doubles for three RBIs, while Snell, Conner and Dallas Hubble collected two hits apiece. Phoenix’s offensive highlights were Brett Ellis’ leadoff double and eventual run scored in the first and Ian McPhee’s three singles in three at-bats. "I think we can play with (the Vikings)," said Hagler, whose squad gets a chance to bounce back quickly with a Skyline doubleheader at Illinois Valley today. "That sounds kind of funny right now, but I really believe we can. "They were the (preseason) conference favorites, with eight returning starters. ... We’ve had a good rivalry with them recently, and hopefully we can sneak one out on them later." Mazama .............................. 221 500 6 — 16 15 0 Phoenix ................................... 100 000 0 — 1 8 7 Butcher, Massey (7) and Manfull; Rhodes, West (4) and Emerson, King (5). W — Butcher. L — Rhodes (1-1). 2B — M: Brosterhous 2, Broadhead; P: Ellis. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S