Purdy, Miller fall in playoffs

May 20, 2008 12:48 am

— From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
Miller and Purdy were hit by 10-run innings by their opponents on Monday in the sectional round of the MSHSAA baseball playoffs.
Class 2 Purdy lost 19-6 in five innings to visiting Blue Eye as the Bulldogs scored 10 runs in the fourth to expand a 9-6 advantage.
Class 1 Miller lost 12-6 to visiting Norwood as the Pirates struck for 10 in the third in jumping ahead 10-0 in the contest held at the Mickey Owen Baseball School.
It was a startling setback for Miller. The Cardinals (21-3) had won 21 games in a row since opening their season with two losses in the Durant (Okla.) Tournament. Norwood improved to 14-11.
Blue Eye (16-3) finished with four home runs with two — both three-run blows — coming in the third in eliminating Purdy (17-8).
Said Purdy coach Joshua Hughes: “We battled back to trail 9-6 and had the bases loaded with two outs. They (the Bulldogs) got out of the inning and responded with the big inning.”
Garett Chapman’s three-run homer made it 12-6 and Tyler Miller’s three-run blow made it 17-6, Hughes said.
Chapman finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored and six RBI to key a 19-hit attack. John Riley added three hits and four RBI and had the Bulldogs’ fourth homer.
Ryan Veith had two hits and three RBI for Purdy. Mason Roller added two hits.
Said Miller coach Matt Walters of the Norwood third: “It was one of the those things that coaches have nightmares about. We had walks, wild pitches and errors. They had just four hits in scoring those 10 runs.
“We’d never have another inning like that if we played 100 games against Norwood,” Walters said.
Trevor Richardson’s bases-loaded triple boosted Norwood ahead 9-0, Walters said. Richardson then scored on a wild pitch.
Tyler Abma had two hits and a run scored for Miller. Ryan Cobb drove in two runs.