The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

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June 13, 2010

Speakers show off skills in victory

BY JOHN DUBOIS Commercial-News

DANVILLE — It has often been said that baseball is a simple game with the three fundamentals of throwing, hitting, and catching.

Sparked by those skills, the Danville Post 210 Speakers defeated Paris Post 211 Saturday at Freedom Field by the score of 4-2. … It was the Speakers’ second consecutive win in the wood bat only Lethal Lumber Classic.

Filling in for coach Adam Decker, Chris Lewellyn was pleased with what he saw.

“Losing the first game of the tournament, especially in extra innings, could have sent the team either way,” he said. “The team has responded well with the two straight wins. It’s a big adjustment playing with wooden bats but its something we have prepared for. We hit several balls well today, and did what we had to do to get a win.”

Cody Burton went five innings for the win, allowing two runs on four hits. Michael Grant threw the final two innings allowing no runs on two hits. Tyler McKenzie had a key two-run home run and Burton helped his own cause by driving in the game-winning runs with a single. The defense was led by the play of catcher Chuckie Robinson.

Paris strung together four singles to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, but Burton was able to escape without further damage and left the bases loaded.

“Cody is a very good pitcher,” Lewellyn said. “He didn’t have his best stuff today but he went out and competed.”

The Speakers would answer right back and tie the game in the top of the fourth as Robinson walked ahead of McKenzie’s home run.

“Tyler has been seeing and squaring up the ball well,” Lewellyn said. “That’s about all you can ask for from a hitter.”

McKenzie is on pace to break the Speakers all-time home run mark of 13 held by David Worthington.

Following doubles by Ryne Watson and Cash Kiser, and a single by Zane Dillon, Burton drove in the game winning runs in the top of the fifth. He would retire Paris 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning before leaving the mound.

“Cody was running out of gas,” Lewellyn said. “He didn’t have much left and Michael Grant was going to come in for relief today. The sixth was a good place to make the change.”

Robinson held on to the ball following a tremendous collision at home plate to cut down a potential Paris run in the bottom of the sixth.

“He wont back down from anyone,” said Lewellyn. “Not many teams run on us. He gunned down that runner trying to steal second earlier in the game and usually throws strikes. It’s a big advantage to have such a strong defensive catcher.”

Kiser, Dillon, and Casey Fletcher each reached base twice for the Speakers who are now 7-2 overall and 2-1 in Lethal Lumber Classic play. They return to action today at Danville Stadium against Macon County at 12:30 p.m.

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