Midland, MI – Explorers’ Dale Levy admits he had a nightmare game against Dean Holoien of the Saskatoon Diamondbacks on Monday, striking out three times.
But what a difference a day makes.
Levy drove in the only run Midland pitcher Don Scott would need as the Explorers defeated the Circle Tap Dukes 2-0 Tuesday afternoon to stay alive in the losers bracket in ISC World Tournament play.
All the scoring was done in the top-half of the first inning.
Lead off batter Dan Loney worked Diamondbacks’ Jeremy Manley for a walk. And Levy followed by drilling a triple, driving in Loney. Eddy Ketlehut followed with an RBI hit, and Scott had all the runs he would need.
“We had a big lump to swallow after last night,” Levy said, referring to Midland’s 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on a game-ending walk off homer. “We came back today and refocused.”
Scott (2-1) got a bit of redemption after taking the loss against the Diamondbacks on Colby Beierle’s walk off homer last night.
But today Scott – known as primarily a rise ball pitcher – changed his pitching tactics, relying more on his change-up to keep a solid-hitting Circle Tap off their stride.
Levy complimented Scott’s (three-hit) pitching, and said that with Scott and Grant Patterson, Midland has two of the better pitchers in the world tournament. But pitching alone won’t get it done, he said.
“We have to stay focused and get good quality at bats.”
The win moves Midland (2-1) on in the losers bracket where they will take on the winner of the Snappers / A1 Brewers game.
