Frontenac gets 6 hits over last 2 innings to outpace Girard

It might have been a little slow in coming but, eventually, the Frontenac 9-10 All-Stars got the hits they needed.
After scoring their first five runs without a hit, Frontenac scored their last five on six hits over the last two innings to defeat Girard, 10-4 in the Little League North Division tournament at the Frontenac Sports Complex Wednesday night.
“I think they just got settled in and they were nervous to start,” said Frontenac coach Todd Plouvier. “We were out ahead of them to start.”
For Girard, it seemed like they spent a lot of their offense in a 21-4 win over Arma on Monday night.
Girard — while also managing six hits — left the bases loaded in two separate innings.
“It is disappointing,” said Girard coach Marvin Barnaby. “You have the opportunities and just leave them there.”
In addition to finally getting hits, Frontenac was able to utilize starting pitcher Luten Warrick for 4 1/3 innings, which was in the game plan from the start.
“It all started with starting pitching,” Plouvier said. “We really needed him to go deep in the game.”
Warrick only gave up one run on three hits over the course of his play on the mound.
Frontenac helped him by taking an early 1-0 lead after Eian Monsour scored Ryan Long from third on a ground out to first.
But, Girard came back in the top of the second when Isiah Fisher scored on a throwing error by Frontenac.
However, Frontenac was able to take control of the game in the third by scoring three more runs — on a stolen base, ground out and wild pitch.
Then, the Frontenac bats started to wake up in the fourth after Warrick belted an RBI triple to left-center field and Brandon Mlekus also connected on an RBI triple later in the inning to score Warrick. It was all part of a four-run fourth inning that put Frontenac up 8-1.
After Frontenac scored two more runs in the fifth, Girard was able to find the plate on three consecutive RBIs from Bailey Crapson, Eric Wilson and Colton Barnaby, but that was all they could muster.
“We just showed up flat tonight,” said Marvin Barnaby.
Now, the focus shifts to Friday night when Frontenac plays Arma. An Arma win creates a three-way tie for the two advancing spots. A Frontenac win advances both them and Girard to the state tournament in Baxter Springs.
“We will just have to go out and play like we are capable,” Plouvier said.

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.

Little League South Division tournament
9-10 division
at Frontenac Sports Complex
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Frontenac 10, Girard 4
Girard    010 003 — 4 6 2
Frontenac    103 42X — 10 6 2
Luten Warrick, Ryan Long (5), Noah Plouvier (5) and Brandon Mlekus. Garrett Barnaby, Dakota Lopez (4) and Bailey Crapson, Austin Lallemand (4). WP — Warrick. LP — Barnaby. LOB — Frontenac 5, Girard 8. E — Mlekus, Long; Eric Wilson, Quintin Ausemus. 3B — Mlekus, Ty Knowles, Warrick.