Knights dealt late-night shutout

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Knights managed just four hits against pitcher Zach Bardot, and dropped a 4-0 decision to St. Clair late Saturday night in the final game of the Missouri Wood Bat Classic.

Bardot racked up eight strikeouts and worked six scoreless innings to hand the Knights their second shutout loss of the tournament. Center fielder Jordan Flora went 2-for-3 and scored a run to lead the Bulldogs.

St. Clair (8-4) opened the scoring on a throwing error in the second inning. The unearned run ultimately produced a loss for Farmington starter Isaac Armstrong, who faced just nine batters under a strict pitch count.

Flora circled the bases on an unusual play in the third when a deep fly ball struck the center fielder and bounced several feet away. The subsequent throw to the infield was mishandled, resulting in a second error on the play.

Robbie Gratzer singled later in the frame and hustled from first to third on a wild pitch, but reliever Mike Standfuss induced a come-backer to the mound. The Farmington defense chased down two different Bulldogs caught in rundowns for an inning-ending double play.

St. Clair increased the margin with RBI singles from Caleb Pfeiffer and Flora in the fourth. Farmington threatened to counter with a series of scoring threats, but was repeatedly turned away.

Bardot maintained his composure to retire Colten Pigg for the final out of the second after being drilled by a line drive. Singles by Adam Blum and Zach Hibbits helped the Knights load the bases in the fourth, but a key strikeout halted that rally.

The tough luck continued for Farmington in the fifth, as a sharp liner was caught to leave runners at the corners. Bardot then closed out his complete game by fanning the side in the sixth.

Armstrong and Bryan Krause picked up singles for the Knights, and Andy Summers tossed two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

Farmington (8-8) secured the No. 2 seed for the upcoming MAAA Tournament, which also features wood bats, and will host either West County or Kingston on Tuesday.