In a matter of just two innings, the Parklane Pioneers turned a low-scoring pitcher’s duel into a one-sided blowout.
The homestanding Pioneers scored 12 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to extend a modest 3-1 lead into a whopping 15-3 victory over Bowling Green. The victory came on the first day of the first annual Pepsi Classic Spring Break Tournament, hosted by Parklane Academy.
“With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning, Parklane’s Quartez Brown smacked a double into the right-center field gap to lead off the frame. Three batters later, Jonathan Turner’s two-RBI slap to right field extended the Pioneers’ lead to 3-1, which is all the padding Parklane starting pitcher Carr Young would need.
Young scattered seven hits and three runs over 51/3 innings on the mound as the game’s winning pitcher.
“It was big for (Young),” Young said. “He got a little shook up last week so we’re trying to settle him in and get some confidence for him on the mound. He showed up tonight, and it was huge for us and huge for him.”
Young returned to the mound to start the sixth inning after the Pioneers scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 9-1. A pair of base hits by Bowling Green and a pair of errors behind Young chased the Pioneers’ starter from the game, but Parklane was able to limit the damage, escaping the inning with a 9-3 still in tact.
For safe measure, the Pioneers tacked on another six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game prematurely thanks to the 10-run mercy rule.
“As soon as their starter came out, we kind of lit it up a bit,” Young said of his team’s offense after a Bowling Green pitching change in the fifth inning. The Pioneers scored their final 12 runs against Bowling Green relief pitchers.
“He probably hit a pitch limit, you know, with teams trying to squeeze in all these games,” Young continued. “We stayed patient, and once they went to their bullpen, we opened up.”
The win is Parklane’s third in its last four games following last week’s 2-1 series victory over Jackson Prep.
The Pioneers will return to action tonight and tomorrow night as part of its spring break tournament. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
“We want to polish things this week,” Young said of Parklane’s approach during the week off from school. “This tournament keeps us playing. We’re trying to fix things in game situations that you can’t fix in practice.
“But mainly we are trying to get ready for conference play next week.”
