Crusaders come up short

The Nebraska Sluggers jumped on the SEK Crusaders early and kept the pressure on for a 9-0 win during day four of the Premier Baseball Incoming Freshman tournament at JayCee Ballpark.
Initially, the game may not have been played.
After a mix-up with communication and an early rain shower, the Sluggers almost did not make it to JayCee for their game with the Crusaders.
“I know our kids were tired and they were just ready to play,” said Crusader coach Will Crozier.
So, after an hour delay, Nebraska came out and picked up four runs on three hits and were helped with an infield error by the Crusaders to take a 4-0 lead.
“The top of our order has been very consistent,” said Sluggers coach Tim McDermott. “They got on base and the rest of the team really picked it up.”
The hits coupled with the pitching of Nebraska starter Camden Parks sealed the Crusaders fate early.
The Crusaders were only able to pick up a pair of hits in the game — a single from Jason Reed in the second and a single from Nathan George in the fifth.
“Camden really shut them down and the defense really pulled through,” McDermott said. “That really seemed to pick up our pitcher.”
Nebraska was able to pull out another two runs in the bottom of the third and three more — helped with a two-run single from Adam Wilson — in the fourth to close the door on the Crusaders.
“It’s really been contagious,” McDermott said. “Even the middle of the order really picked it up in this game.”
But, for the Crusaders, it seemed that their lack of hitting was their downfall against the Sluggers.
“Our hitting just didn’t come through,” Crozier said. “They [Sluggers] also covered the gaps very well.”
The Crusaders will play one more game in the tournament at 11:15 a.m. today against the Waco Storm Astros at JayCee Ballpark.

Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140. Follow Morning Sun sports at twitter.com/mssports.

Premier Baseball Incoming Freshman tournament
Saturday, July 4, 2009
at JayCee Ballpark
Nebraska Sluggers 9, SEK Crusaders 0
Crusaders    000 00 — 0 2 3
Sluggers    402 3X — 9 8 0
Anthony McNeely, Trenton Stolte (4) and Cody Grilz. Camden Parks and Ryan Cate. WP — Parks. LP — McNeely. E — Austin White 2, Dylan Crozier. LOB — Crusaders 0, Sluggers 5. 2B — Cate.