Sedalia withstands Outlaws' ninth-inning comeback

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July 5, 2012

Sedalia withstands Outlaws' ninth-inning comeback

By Richard Polen Globe Sports Writer The Joplin Globe Thu Jul 05, 2012, 11:56 PM CDT

Bob Greco pitched a complete game seven-hitter Thursday night in Sedalia’s 6-4 victory against Joplin in a MINK League game at Wendell Redden Stadium.

Greco, a right-hander from Bellevue (Neb.) University, walked none and struck out nine. He retired the Outlaws in order in the fifth through eighth innings.

“My slider was my best secondary pitch,” said Greco, a closer in college who is trying to become a starter this summer. “I was locating my fastball until that last inning. I stayed with the slider and fastball.

“When you’re a closer, you come out with every pitch you’ve got,” he said. “As a starter, you want to lengthen yourself out, last longer and get ground balls.”

Grego, who pitched in high school at Papillion (Neb.) LaVista South, will be a junior this fall at Bellevue, which has made 12 appearances in the NAIA World Series.

He survived the Outlaws’ comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth inning. Koby Chadick, who was 2-for-4, led off by grounding a single into left field. Then, with two out, Conor Smith singled and Jimmy Obermark doubled off the left-field fence, scoring Chadick and Smith. Greco ended the game with his ninth strikeout.

“He had good stuff,” said Outlaws head coach Rob Vessell. “He kept us off balance all night. You just have to tip your cap. He worked ahead and didn’t walk too many guys.”

The Outlaws resume league play against Ozark at 7 p.m. today at Wendell Redden Stadium.

The Bombers broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run sixth inning. They loaded the bases on singles by Logan Pearson and Matt Skipper along with a walk to Ryan Reddick. Travis McComack drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk and Pierce Bily drove in Reddick with a single to center before Brian Carr flied out to center fielder Chadick, who threw Skipper out at home for a double play.

Joplin took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Chadick’s two-out double that scored Taylor Eaves, who reached on an error. The Outlaws added a run in the second inning on a one-out triple to right field by Smith, who scored on Obermark’s grounder to short.

Sedalia cleanup hitter Kolby Peebles was 3-for-5, including an RBI single in the third inning that scored Bily, who tripled. Catcher Ryan Redick drove in the Bombers’ first run with a bases-loaded single in the second inning, and McComack and Curtis Bunch each drove in a run with sacrifice flies in the eighth and ninth innings.