Kegel Black Knights in Elkart, IA
July 1, 2008
Elkart, IA
Kegel Black Knights at Midwest Stampede/Albaugh Inc. Invitational
The 25th year addition of the Kegel Black Knights find themselves ranked 20th and holding a 6-2 record. This past weekend they traveled to Elkart, IA to play in the Midwest Stampede/Albaugh Inc. Invitational. The Black Knights have had a light schedule thus far playing in just two local tournaments up to this point. KBK was without the services of eastern Canadian pitchers Steve Langley and Mitchell Hardy and eagerly await their arrival in July. KBK is also looking forward to the return of second baseman and power hitting Duane Clarkson to the lineup.
KBK traveled to Elkhart, IA to match up with A&L Farms from Lincoln, NE in the first game of pool play. KBK scored 6 runs in the first four innings and led 6-2. A&L then came out and scored 5 in the fifth inning, three in the sixth, and one in the 7th to win 10-6. Darin Dubsky earned the win for A&L, while Darcy Byrne took the loss for KBK. BJay Boom was 3x4 with 2 hr’s, a triple and 3 rbi’s.
The second game of pool play matched KBK with the 6th ranked Midwest Stampede. Jeremy Manley was in the circle for the Stampede, while Brady Woods took the ball for the Black Knights. Midwest scored 3 runs in the bottom of the third inning when Matt Darling walked, stole second went to third on a pass ball and scored on a wild pitch. After another walk Ben Fjelland hit a homerun to right to give the Stampede the 3-0 lead.. In the top of the fourth, Nathan Giesbrecht walked to start the inning and after a strike out moved to second on a Peter Reimer single. Eric Lewis walked to load the bases while Giesbrecht scored on a wild pitch. Manley struck out the next two hitters leaving runners on second and third, and the score at 3-1 Stampede. KBK got things going again in the top of the fifth as Aaron Klinske walked to start the inning. BJay Boom earned first base on a fielders choice and scored on back to back singles from Darcy Byrne and Giesbrecht. The score: Midwest 3 and KBK 2. Jeremy Manley got the win allowing 2 runs and striking out 15. Brady Woods took the loss allowing 3 runs and fanning 11.
The last game of the night KBK took on 12th ranked Townline. Brady Woods again took the circle for KBK and Shaun Jamison for Townline. The game was 1-1 going into the top of the sixth inning. Townline was able to add one run in each the fifth and the sixth innings. KBK answered in the sixth as Nathan Giesbrecht walked and moved to second on a single by Gavin Smith. Peter Reimer’s sac bunted them and Giesbrecht scored on a single by Jim Harms. KBK down 3-2, headed into the bottom of the seventh tied the game on three straight singles from Darcy Byrne, Aaron Klinske, and BJay Boom. In the extra frame Townline scored 2 runs in their half of the inning, while KBK scored 1, and left the bases loaded to end the game. Woods allowed 4 earned runs, struck out 8 and walked 1. Gavin Smith and Peter Reimer were both 2x3.
In bracket play Sunday morning KBK was matched with the Thomson Area Merchants. Thomson drew first blood on a Marquis Cody inside the park homerun in the bottom half of the first inning. KBK took the lead in the top half of the second when Eric Lewis leadoff with a double and scored on a Jim Harms single. Then with two outs, two straight singles from BJay Boom and Brent Rabenhorst plated Harms and gave KBK a 2-1 lead. The Black Knights never relinquished the lead as they went on to win 7-4. Darcy Byrne earned the win going all 7 innings, allowing 2 earned runs, and striking out 6. BJay Boom was 3x5 and Eric Lewis was 3x4.
This set up another battle with Townline and KBK. Brady Woods was again in the circle against Townline’s veteran Craig Gibson. Townline scored the loan run of the game on a Jon Zipperer homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning. Woods threw a great game as he allowed just 1 run, giving up 6 hits, 1 walk and striking out 6 in the loss.
The Black Knights will next see action in two weeks as they travel to Denmark for the Boys of Summer.
Eric Lewis
KBK
Fargo, ND
