Stringer took a 5-1 cushion over Resurrection Catholic into an hour-long weather delay Friday night in Stringer during game two of the MHSAA 1A South playoffs. Following the delay, the Red Devils continued to pour on runs and eventually run-ruled the Eagles 12-2 in six innings.
Stringer was in a third round, must-win situation following a 3-2 loss to Resurrection on the road Thursday night.
“We were prepared to do whatever we had to do to win this game,” said Red Devils head coach Wade Weathers.
Stringer used two arms – Conner Hicks and Jake Parker – on the mound Friday night. Hicks, after striking out the lead off batter, found himself in trouble early after walking three Eagles to load the bases in the top of the first inning. But, the senior held his composure and fanned two more in the inning, while giving up a hit and only one run in the situation. Jake Parker entered in the top of the third, and staved off the Eagles the rest of the game. The junior went four innings for Stringer, produced three strikeouts, and only allowed two hits.
“Hicks was able to limit damage early on, which was really big, even though he struggled with control,” Weathers explained. “Jake Parker came in and did a really good job of holding that offense down because they are a really, really good offense. To hold them to four total hits and two runs, I’m really proud of both of them.”
Stringer’s big offensive burst came in the bottom of the first when the Red Devils plated five runs. Cayleb Dyess doubled deep off the left field wall to open the spigot for the Red Devils. Hicks sacrificed to right, advancing Dyess to third, and Jackson Parker walked. Jake Parker then hit a slow grounder that was booted by the Eagles’ second baseman to score Dyess and move his younger brother, Jackson, to third. Andrew Nix drew a one-out walk to load the bases, and Gunner James ripped a shot through the left side of the infield that scored the Parker brothers and gave the Red Devils a 3-1 gap. Evan Holifield later lined to left to load the bases again for Stringer. Conner Smith, facing a 3-2 count with two outs, grounded through the center of the infield to plate Nix and Omarion Bridges [running for James] before Resurrection was able to record the third out of the at-bat.
Hicks was able to retire Resurrection in the top of the second without any real threat, and the Red Devils went right back to work at the plate. Hicks singled to center to lead off the bottom of the second, and Jackson Parker walked. Jake Parker produced a hit to right field that scored Hicks and advanced Jackson Parker to third. Nix, with one out, belted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Jackson Parker to give the Red Devils a 7-1 lead before the Eagles got out of the inning.
Resurrection picked up its final run of the game in the top of the third on a throwing error, before Jake Parker got the Devils out of the frame, which led to the weather delay.
Stringer took an 8-1 lead in the bottom of the third when Hicks, with two outs, doubled to score Hunter Burkeen, who had previously earned a walk. Stringer then loaded the bases on a Jackson Parker walk, but the Eagles got out of the inning with no further damage.
The Red Devils produced three quick outs in the top of the fourth, and went on to score another run in the bottom portion of the inning to take a 9-2 lead. Nix singled to left, and eventually made his way to third on a passed ball and fielder’s choice. Burkeen hit a short fly to right the outfielder couldn’t track down and Nix toed the triangle, before Resurrection ended the inning on a play at third.
A quick fifth inning at-at by both teams, finally led to the bottom of the sixth where Stringer ended the game. Holifield, Burkeen, and Smith each walked to load the bases for the Devils with no outs. A fielder’s choice play at the plate earned the first out for Resurrection, but Hicks banged a shot to left to scored Burkeen and Smith for an 11-2 lead. Jake Parker ended the game with a bases loaded hit to left field.
Stringer found any way it could to produce offensively throughout the night, which left Weathers impressed.
“I’m really proud of the offensive effort. They [Resurrection] threw a lot of different arms at us. We took our walks when we had to have them, we got hit by pitches, and we had some timely hits and ran the bases well,” he mentioned. “Everybody contributed for us to night on offense.”
The Red Devils will travel again to Resurrection Saturday for a rubber game that is set to begin at 1 p.m., and Weathers expects a good game, especially with two good pitchers going to the hill for both teams.
“We are going to see one of their better arms, and they are going to get Jackson Parker. It should be a good pitching matchup. I know their arm is good, and I know our arm is pretty good too,” he said.
“I think we’ve got some confidence right now about going back down there. We look forward to it, and we are just happy we are playing another day.”
(Article by Heath Walley)
