After week away, Trisler cranks homer to lead AC over Saints
Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 17, 2004
NATCHEZ &045; So much for the WD-40.
It didn’t take long Friday for upcoming Adams Christian senior David Trisler to shake off any rust that may have surfaced during the past week at church camp in Dixon.
Trisler spanked a 1-0 fastball from Trinity starter Colby Godfrey beyond the left field fence, sparking a two-out rally.
The solo blast was the first of four consecutive hits and five runs in the bottom of the first, as the Rebels took the second game 6-1 to sweep a doubleheader from Trinity.
AC thumped the Saints 19-1 in the opener.
&uot;We swung the bats well considering,&uot; Rebel head coach Ron Rushing said. &uot;All of them work until five or six, so we only practice every once in a while.&uot;
Dustin Case and Trisler gave up three hits in the second game, as AC searches desperately for arms to go with Timmy Foster next season.
Case honed in during his two innings of work, facing seven batters and striking out five of them.
The only hit he surrendered was a leadoff single to Matthew Freeman in the second. Freeman had two of the Saints’ three hits and scored Trinity’s only run in the top of the fourth when Trisler walked Blaine Misita with the bases loaded.
&uot;After the first couple of games I was pleased with their energy,&uot; Trinity head coach Matt Mason said. &uot;Even when they were making mistakes they made them wide open.
&uot;I don’t know if they were physically tired from the camps we’ve been to or intimidated by this (AC) bunch, but we didn’t come to play. We’ll write this one off and move on.&uot;
Case and Ray Simpson flied out to Trinity’s Stevan Ridley in center to lead off the bottom of the first and it appeared Godfrey might cruise through a one-two-three inning.
However, he missed with his first offering to Trisler and then &uot;Bird&uot; (Trisler’s nickname) poked Godfrey’s second pitch the opposite way.
The ball apparently had a first-class ticket on the Concord by how quick it exited the ballpark.
Despite rallying his team with his homer, Trisler focused more on his pitching outing.
&uot;I didn’t get that many calls, but I didn’t feel like I threw like I was capable of,&uot; said Trisler, who gave up two hits, an earned run and struck out a pair in two innings. &uot;You just want to better yourself, keep your skills and not lose confidence in what you’re doing.&uot;
Brian Smith followed Trisler’s touch-em-all with a single and moved to second when the Trinity left fielder misplayed the ball.
Jamie Morris blasted one of his two doubles during the second game to score Smith for a 2-0 advantage.
Ridley got turned around on Morris’ shot and was unable to park under it for what would’ve been the last out.
&uot;I knew AC was going to put the ball in play against us because they’ve got good bats and our pitching staff is young,&uot; Mason said.
In the first game, the Rebels scored 12 runs in the first inning thanks to a grand slam from David New and added seven more in the second, including a homer from Case.
&uot;He threw me three straight curves and none of them were strikes,&uot; Case said. &uot;I was looking fastball and he threw it where I could hit it.&uot;
Case, who finished 3 for 3 in the opener, said it’s not always easy to find a rhythm during summer ball because the entire roster has other obligations.
&uot;The main thing is staying focused and doing well while we’re out here,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re not playing teams as good as we’re used to, but you can still get work out of it.&uot;