KFDM COOP Posted April 15, 2008 Author Report Posted April 15, 2008 Marshall leads Sterling over West Brook By Dave Rogers Published April 16, 2008 Brett Marshall did it with the bat Friday night and Tuesday, it was his right arm in the spotlight. That and some Sterling defense by Sterling’s Rangers. Marshall allowed only two hits and his defense helped out with two double plays as the Rangers took an 8-1 win over West Brook Tuesday night at Ronnie Kluch Field. “In the 12 years I’ve been here, that was probably the most solid performance I’ve seen us put together defensively,†Sterling coach Paul Tadlock said after his team improved to 21-3 on the season, 10-1 in District 21-5A. “We made all the plays: the tough plays, the easy plays, all of them. That was as solid as I think we could possibly play.†Marshall’s on a bit of a hot streak, too. He went 4 for 4 in Friday’s 10-3 win at Channelview, banging out a pair of home runs, a double and six RBIs. “I was just feeling it Friday,†he said. “I’m just feeling real confident at the plate.†On the mound, Marshall threw a fastball clocked at 95 miles per hour by some of the scouts on hand every time he pitches. He struck out five, issued three walks (all in the first three innings) and hit a batter. “A circle change got away from me,†he said of the pitch that hit Chris Muellner in the foot to lead off the seventh. Muellner went to third on Austin Huff’s one-out double, the first hit Marshall allowed since the first, and scored on a groundout. “That run didn’t mean anything,†the pitcher said, “but it was one run that shouldn’t have scored. It was my fault.†West Brook put its first three batters on base against Marshall, but did not score. Matt Serna led off with a walk and was forced at second by Thad Lycan’s grounder. Then Muellner singled to put runners at first and second. That’s when Will Partain grounded to Sterling shortstop Derek Brooks, who flipped to second baseman Landon Martinez to start a 6-4-3 double play. Marshall walked a batter in the second inning and stranded him. In the third, Serna walked again, but was erased by another 6-4-3 twin killing. “I was feeling real good (warming up) before the game,†said Marshall, 7-1 on the mound this year. “But it took me a while to find it during the game. “I just decided to let my defense work.†Trevor Swint, Kevin Peters and Landon Martinez each knocked in two runs for the Rangers against West Brook. Peters, Sterling’s catcher, got his team on the scoreboard first, knocking in Hunter Cervenka and Marshall with a two-out double in the bottom of the first. Brooks’ sacrifice fly in the second scored Gil Sandoval for a 3-0 Ranger lead. Swint singled home Jimmy Mott with a two-out single in the fourth inning to make it 4-0. The Rangers upped their lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the sixth when Martinez hit a two-run single, Swint scored Martinez with a double high off the centerfield fence, and Cervenka’s sacrifice fly scored Swint. The Rangers play at first-place Atascocita Friday, trying to give the Eagles a little payback from a first-round loss.
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