Gallery by Tina Laney
Very few pitchers have had the ability to hold down the explosive Independence bats this season.
Shady Spring hurler Cameron Manns is making a habit of it.
After limiting the Patriots to one hit in a sectional win last year, Manns baffled Independence for six innings again Wednesday in their Class AA Region 3, Section 2 showdown.
Pitching six innings before being lifted due to the pitch count rule, Manns limited the Patriots to three hits and two runs, neither earned, while striking out 12 batters.
During his six innings of work, Shady Spring built a 6-2 lead and held on for a crucial 6-5 win in Coal City.
“It was a county rival and you want to come out here and beat them. It feels great to get the win,” Manns said. “I did it last year as a sophomore and it felt great. So, coming in this year I was confident. The pressure was on them to beat us, but we came out with the win.”
Countering Manns on the other side was all-stater Atticus Goodson. It was clear that in this showdown, runs would be at a premium.
The Tigers struck first and never trailed in the ball game.
Jacob Meadows reached on an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Meadows swiped third and when the throw down sailed into left field, he raced home for a 1-0 lead.
The home team evened the score in the second inning when J.D. Monroe hit a one-out double and scored later after an error and a pair of walks.
“We got on the board early and I knew one wouldn’t enough. We wanted to keep chipping away because I knew we had the ace on the mound,” Shady Spring head coach Jordan Meadows said.
Shady added to the lead with two runs in the third inning to keep the pressure on the Patriots.
Colten Tate was hit by a pitch to open the inning and Meadows followed with a sinking liner to centerfield. When the ball skipped past the defender’s glove and rolled to the fence, Tate scored and Meadows came in standing at third base.
Tyler Mackey followed with a deep sacrifice fly to center to score Meadows for a 3-1 lead.
“They did a better job of taking advantage of their opportunities than we did tonight,” Independence head coach Scott Cuthbert said. ” We had some chances early to get the lead or stay even and we didn’t take advantage.”
The Patriots loaded the bases in the first inning with just one out, but Manns never buckled.
The 6-foor-4 right-hander escaped any damage when Aden Seabolt cut the lead runner down on a ground ball at third and the next batter was retired on a fly ball.
Independence had Manns in a tough spot in the fifth inning after back-to back singles and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out.
Manns did yield one run on a wild pitch, but slammed the door on Indy with two consecutive strikeouts.
“Those innings go back to the state basketball tournament and him having experience in big games. This time last year, he did the same thing,” Meadows said. “I told him before the game to just throw the ball that he was the best out here. No doubt about it.”
One big key in keeping Indy off balance was Manns’ ability to keep his poise and throw his curveball for strikes in fastball situations.
“I was getting down in the count at 3-0 and 3-1 and working my way back by throwing the curveball. That is where I feel comfortable and it worked tonight,” Manns said. “Playing in the state basketball tournament has helped me mentally for times like this. This was a big game.”
It is often said that a double play is a pitcher’s best friend. Manns may argue that a three-run homer is just as friendly.
That blast came in the top of the sixth inning from the bat of Adam Richmond.
“After the first foul off I was feeling comfortable. I was in a two-strike count and he was hitting me with the off-speed,” Richmond explained. “I was choked up and I was looking for a barrel because we needed some runs. It was a little bit more than a barrel, so I will take it.”
Alex Johnston doubled to open the inning before Seabolt reached on a fielding error, setting the stage for Richmond who had just missed a home run on his previous at bat.
“We knew when we got base runners on that we were going to bunt and we were going to steal and try to do the little things to try and get runs,” Meadows said. “It worked out good for us and Adam’s three-run bomb – what more can you ask for in that situation?”
An error to open the home half of the sixth gave Indy hope, but two strikeouts and a solid defensive play on a chopper to Manns kept Indy from scoring.
At the time, Richmond’s blast appeared to be icing on the cake for Shady. It turned out to be the game winner.
With two outs in the seventh, Independence caught fire and a three-run bomb from Andy Lester cut the lead back to one run.
Tanner Sipes singled and was lifted for a courtesy runner who stole second to put a runner in scoring position.
When a strikeout pitch in the dirt forced a high throw down to first to get the batter, Cuthbert sent his runner home for a chance to tie the game.
Richmond gathered himself at first base and threw a strike back to the plate where the runner was tagged for the third out.
Shady advances to the sectional championship game Friday, while Independence will host Nicholas County Thursday in an elimination game.
“We just have to pick ourselves up for tomorrow and hopefully come back from there. The kids didn’t quit,” Cuthbert said. “There at the end, that was my fault. I thought the ball was going over the first baseman’s head.”
After dropping a lopsided affair back in March in the only regular season meeting between the schools, Meadows was adamant then that his team would be ready by the postseason.
“I love my team and I had the utmost confidence when May rolled around that this team would be ready. A win is a win and I am proud of my team,” Meadows said.