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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 24, 2005 Mustangs stymie Las Vegas to open tourney By FRANK SILOW Mail Tribune The Medford Mustangs used shutout pitching from Josh Suarez and the overall play by its Phoenix connection — Dustin Smith and Brenton Ferguson — to open the inaugural Best of the West Wood Bat Challenge Baseball Tournament with a 6-0, nine-inning victory over the Las Vegas Lions Thursday at North Medford High. The seven-team, round-robin tournament is taking place concurrently at North and Kiger Stadium in Klamath Falls. The Mustangs (12-4) play a split doubleheader today against Las Vegas at 2 p.m. followed by the Grants Pass Nuggets at 5. Grants Pass defeated Las Vegas 8-4 in an earlier tournament game Thursday. The Lions are made up of players from Sierra Vista High, which won the Nevada 4A state championship this year. Advertisement Las Vegas coach Levi Gill pointed out before the game, however, that the Lions’ roster is missing seven players from that championship team on this road trip. Regardless, Suarez (3-0) tossed an efficient, complete-game gem. He threw only 94 pitches and scattered six hits. "I’ve never done that before," said Suarez about the low-pitch count. "I just let my defense do what they do best. It makes you have more confidence on the mound." The smooth-throwing left-hander has not given up an earned run in 22 innings of American Legion baseball this season. The left-hander ended the contest by striking out pinch-hitter Josh Krumme. Suarez finished with three strikeouts and issued one walk. The Mustangs supported the excellent pitching performance by playing errorless ball and turned two double plays. Smith and Ferguson, both from Phoenix High, made some stellar defensive plays and provided offensive punch at the bottom of the order. Ferguson, a second-year starter for the Mustangs, went 2-for-3, drove in two runs and scored once from the No. 9 spot in the order. In the fourth inning, the second baseman made a difficult over-the-shoulder running catch in right field for the first out after Pat Grennan reached on a bunt single to open the frame. Then in the bottom of the fourth, Ferguson blasted a fly ball that one-hopped off the left-field fence for a double. Darren Bruhns broke on the 1-and-1 pitch to Ferguson and scored all the way from first to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead. "I felt confident," said Ferguson, who was slowed during the high school season with an ankle injury. "I was seeing the ball real good. It was coming off the wood bat OK in this hot weather." Medford added two more runs in the fifth inning. Kyle Williamson and Chad Hegdahl both singled to start the rally. After two were out and Ryan Odell at the plate, Mustangs coach Sandee Kensinger called a double steal that moved Williamson and Hegdahl into scoring position. Odell then delivered a clutch two-run single but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. In the sixth inning, Smith came up with a pair of big-time defensive plays. The Mustang third baseman back-handed a dart off the bat of Chucky Howard and threw out the Lions’ first batter of the inning. Then Smith speared a grounder extending well to his left, kept his balance and completed the putout to end the inning. Ferguson and Smith accounted for the Mustangs’ final two runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach. Smith opened with a looper just inside the left-field line that went for a double. After Bruhns grounded out, Ferguson ripped a double into right center. Dan Chancler followed with an RBI triple on a liner that rolled all the way to the fence. "(Ferguson) has really stepped it up," said Kensinger. "He didn’t want to watch the game from the sidelines." Smith was making the most of his opportunity to play, replacing Jared Adamson, who was not in uniform. "(Smith) is a tough out," said Kensinger. "I like the way he swings the bat. With Jared (Adamson) out of town we didn’t miss a beat." Kensinger could find very little wrong with the Mustangs’ performance against Las Vegas. "We pitched well, played good defense and got some timely hitting," said Kensinger. The tournament format allows for a change from the customary aluminum to wood bats. "The kids like it because its cool to play with a wood bat," said Kensinger. "They watch pro baseball players with wood bats, so it’s kind of neat." Las Vegas Lions.................000 000 000 — 0 6 2 Medford Mustangs............100 122 00x — 6 13 0 Leary, Miller (7) and Temple; Suarez and Bruhns. W — Suarez (3-0). L — Leary. 2B — M: Williamson, Ferguson 2, Chancler. 3B — M: Chancler. Las Vegas Lions..................003 100 000 — 4 9 2 Grants Pass Nuggets.........301 201 01x — 8 13 3 Krumme, Grennan (7) and Howard; Castro and Prock. W — Castro. L — Krumme. 2B — LV: Grennan, Ray, Gupchewski; GP: Allen, Teaters. 3B — GP: Allen, Willingham. Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s