By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:30 AM CDT

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Hurricanes wasted a four-run lead against Rock Memorial on Tuesday, but capitalized on two errors during a pivotal sixth inning to secure an 8-6 victory in Junior American Legion baseball action.

Brandon Kearns highlighted the decisive rally with a deep RBI triple to right field, and finished 2-for-2 overall to pace the Hurricanes. Alex Pinkston scored two runs and added a sacrifice fly for insurance during the three-run frame.

Rock Memorial trailed 5-1 after five innings, but pulled even on a pair of two-run singles from Ryan Drysdale and pinch-hitter Tim Woods. However, three unearned runs gave starter Joey Mikesch the loss.

Doug Warren pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief for the win, and stranded the tying runs on base after Brett Hall ripped a RBI double in the seventh. Josh Gann allowed seven hits and struck out two in a no-decision.

The Hurricanes (17-7) struck initially in the second inning when Roper Garrett doubled and hustled home from second base on a fielder’s choice. Pinkston singled and scored on a wild pitch in the third for a 2-0 advantage.

Chad Jungwalter scored on a ground out after leading off the Rock Memorial fourth with a single, but Farmington countered with a two-out rally during the home half.

Kearns doubled and scored on a passed ball, and Kyle Warren made it 4-1 with an infield blooper that dropped between the pitcher and shortstop.

Conner Davault and Doug Warren also singled for the Hurricanes.

Drysdale finished 3-for-4 and Jungwalter went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead Rock Memorial.

Hurricanes 6, House Springs 2

FARMINGTON — Kyle Warren finished 2-for-2 and Logan Bradley delivered a key two-run single in the second inning, as the Farmington Hurricanes held off House Springs for a 6-2 victory on Tuesday night.

Winning pitcher Philip Kreitler was spotted a 4-0 lead when Alex Pinkston scored on a wild pitch following Bradley’s big hit, and notched eight strikeouts over four eventful innings.

House Springs stranded 11 runners overall and trimmed its deficit to 4-2 with the assistance of four walks in the third. Kreitler escaped bases-loaded jams with called strikeouts in back-to-back innings.

Bradley fanned four batters and allowed no hits while earning a three-inning save. A lead-off walk was erased in the sixth when second baseman Nathan Wulfert turned a leaping catch into a timely double play.

Kreitler smashed a long double to the left-field fence and Wulfert followed with a sacrifice fly, as Farmington scored twice in the bottom of the sixth.

Catcher Conner Davault and Roper Garrett added singles for the Hurricanes (18-7). Davault threw out a potential base stealer during the opening inning of both contests on Tuesday.

Robert Martin went 2-for-4 and Jacob Zehner reached base four times to lead House Springs. Zack Fortner walked six and yielded five hits in the loss.