Mustangs gash A's early, take step toward MINK Championship
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Joseph Mustangs | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 3 |
|
Clarinda A's | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
St. Joseph wasted no time setting the tone in the opening game of the MINK League Championship Series against Clarinda.
The Mustangs put up a crooked number in the first and fifth innings to take a commanding lead on the way to a 10-6 win Thursday night.
The victory brings St. Joe one win away from clinching the organization's 10th MINK League title.
The fireworks started in the top of the first – the Mustangs loaded the bases with one out for Jack Mosh. Mosh ripped a bases-clearing double to stake St. Joe to an early three-run lead, then later came into score on a single by Jayden Little.
The second began in similar fashion, with a walk to Parker Griffith followed by a Truman Bodenhausen double. Logan Miller hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Griffith home and open a 5-0 advantage for the Mustangs.
They began to pour it on in the fifth inning as Bodenhausen and Miller tacked on RBI singles, and Darius Freeman drove in two with a double to extend the lead to 9-0.
The offensive breakout for St. Joseph came while Clarinda was still trying to figure out Cade Perkins. The lefty pitcher allowed just one hit through the first four innings.
The A's began to gain some traction in the fifth inning with a pair of hits and their first run of the game – Cooper Knight crossed home plate on a wild pitch. Layth Holliday scored on another wild pitch by Perkins in the sixth, followed by RBI singles from Drake Cobb and Kane Wilson.
Holliday came up again in the seventh and drove in a run, then later stole third and scored on an error to bring the A's within four of the Mustangs.
St. Joe's Lane Chapman relieved Perkins in the eighth and held Clarinda in check over the final two innings while collecting two strikeouts.
Thursday's win marked the 21st time this season the Mustangs scored 10 or more runs in a game.
Game two of the MINK League Championship Series is set for 7pm Friday at Phil Welch in St. Joseph. If the A's even the series, a decisive game three will be played Saturday at 7pm back at Phil Welch.
MINK League Playoff Schedule
| Monday, July 21 | Wild Card Round | No. 6 Nevada 4, No. 3 Chillicothe 1 |
| Tuesday, July 22 | Wild Card Round (moved due to weather) | No. 5 Carroll 0, No. 4 Jefferson City 10 |
| Tuesday, July 22 | Semifinal Round | No. 6 Nevada 1, No. 1 St. Joseph 2 |
| Wednesday, July 23 | Semifinal Round | No. 4 Jefferson City 2, No. 2 Clarinda 7 |
| Thursday, July 24 | MINK League Championship Series | Game 1: No. 1 St. Joseph 10, No. 2 Clarinda 6 |
| Saturday, July 26 | MINK League Championship Series | Game 2: No. 2 Clarinda @ No. 1 St. Joseph |
| Sunday, July 27 | MINK League Championship Series | Game 3: No. 2 Clarinda @ No. 1 St. Joseph (if necessary) |