You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 11 p.m.

Skyline baseball settles in, shuts down Greenhills in doubleheader

By Kaleb Roedel

baseball.jpg

Greenhills School's Alec Khouri tries to avoid being tagged by Skyline High School catcher Nate Wegryn during third inning action of the first game of Thursday afternoon, April 1st's doubleheader between the two teams at Skyline High School. Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

With the score tied at 4-4 in his team's final at-bat, Skyline High School's Connor Voss planted himself at the plate -- with one out and a runner on third -- as the potential game-winning bat rested on his shoulder.

After taking a few pitches, Voss made contact, dribbling a seemingly routine out to the Greenhills School first baseman.

Cue a Gryphons error -- their third of the game -- and Voss went from a sure-fire out to owner of a walk-off RBI, punctuating Skyline's 5-4 comeback win in game one of a baseball double-header Thursday at Skyline. The Eagles trailed 4-1 heading into the final frame.

More MLive.com coverage: This Story & Photo Gallery | Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore

"I just had to hit the ball somewhere and get the run in," said Voss, who went on to admit, "It would've been better if I got a better hit since it was a dribbler, but it felt good."

A walk from Erik Dean to open the bottom of the fifth, the final inning in double-headers, paved the way for Skyline's comeback. Dean later crossed home to initiate the rally, following a Max Killough single and a pinch-hit RBI double to right from Jack Clark.

"The biggest problem in the first game was in the last half-inning we walked the first hitter and that's always trouble," said Greenhills manager John Dudley. "And that's what got us in trouble. It just unwound from there."

After Greenhills snagged a pop-fly, Jarrid McHenry knocked a two-run double over the out-stretched glove of centerfield Matt Jong, evening the count at 4-4.

"It felt great. I love hitting, and key moments are even better," said McHenry.

Voss' dribbler put the finishing touches on Skyline's season-opening win.

"Max Killough threw a lot of strikes, kept us in the game," said Skyline manager Bryan Clutterbuck. "And we had some solid hitting from Jarrid McHenry and Connor Voss."

"We just kept plugging away. Guys made good defensive plays and we just kept battling."

Killough threw all five frames in the win, allowing five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. At the plate, Voss finished 2-for-3 and McHenry went 1-for-3, each scoring a run.

Greenhills was led by Matt Jong and Alex Blough, who had two RBI apiece. Meanwhile, Jake Books finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs.

Skyline carried over its momentum into game two, evident by the Eagles' four-run first inning. Nick Sponseller and Clark provided the damage, belting two-run doubles each. The Eagles went through their entire lineup in the frame, drawing four walks along the way.

"They came out swinging the bats pretty aggressively, we swung the ball well," Clutterbuck said of his club.

baseball2.jpg

Skyline High School second baseman Jerrrid McHenry, left, appears to tag out Greenhills School baserunner Matt Canter on a steal attempt in the third inning of the first game, but Canter was called safe on the play by the umpire. Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

After Clark pitched another scoreless inning for Skyline, he helped his team add three runs in the second. McHenry and Voss knocked one-run doubles before Clark pelted an RBI triple. When the dust settled, the Eagles held a 7-0 command.

"After the first game we settled in and started seeing the ball a little bit better," noted McHenry, who went 1-for-3. "For me, I was just seeing the ball really well, just taking nice level cuts at it."

Greenhills, however, huffed out Skyline's hot hitting from there, as pitcher Alec Khouri fell into a groove. In fact, he fanned all three Eagle batters in the third.

Meanwhile, the Gryphons' bats came alive, and after Connor Kaczynski ripped an RBI single in the fourth the gap was closed to 7-2.

Greenhills (0-3) tacked on two more runs -- on a past-ball and a sacrifice fly from Jong -- in its last-ditch effort, but Skyline (2-0) reliever Sponseller shut the door when he put down three straight Gryphon batters to end the game.

In the win, Clark threw four innings with zero walks, five strikeouts and one earned run. Voss and Sponseller led in hits with two apiece.

"Jack did a great job throwing strikes, getting ahead of the hitter," said Clutterbuck. "He works fast and to me that's awesome."

In the other dugout, "The second game we got off to a bad start," said Dudley. "We came back nicely towards the end, so I was pleased with that."

Greenhills had a trio of 2-for-3 batters, including Khouri, Books and Travis Colwell.

"I think we have alot of potential," continued Dudley. "We are making a lot of mistakes and they have to get corrected. I think we'll be a much better team then we are a month from now."

Kaleb Roedel is a sports writer for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734)623-2562 or e-mailed at kalebroedel@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kaleb_R.

Comments

Donna

Fri, Apr 2, 2010 : 9:50 a.m.

It's great to finally see some good coverage of Skyline sports - thanks!