Rattlers Lose To G. Giants

From the Capital-Journal:

ROSSVILLE — A big offensive inning can be a blessing and a curse for a pitcher. The run support is greatly appreciated, but the time spent in the dugout while his teammates bat around can throw off his rhythm.

The Topeka Golden Giants sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth inning and scored seven runs. Pitcher Chris McPherson, who had cruised through four innings without allowing a hit, then gave up three runs and three hits to Rossville in the bottom of the inning.

That one tough inning was easily overcome, however, as the Golden Giants rolled to a 13-3, 8-inning run rule victory over the Rattlers in the opener of a three-game Mid-Plains League series Thursday at Joe Campbell Stadium.

“It’s hard to go back out after standing around for 30 minutes,” McPherson said. “I love the run support, though.”

The Giants (7-8 MPL) held a 3-0 lead when they erupted for the seven-run fifth, highlighted by Gunner Halter’s two-run home run.

The Rattlers (4-11) put the first three batters on base in the bottom of the inning with a single, walk and single. Tim Schaareman drove in two runs with a single.

“You have to stay warm,” McPherson said of the long wait between trips to the mound. “I was sitting down for a while and the coach (Chris Graves) came over and yapped at me and told me to get up and start moving again.”

That was all Rossville could manage off McPherson, who allowed four hits with six strikeouts and three walks in seven innings. He also hit four batters in the compact ballpark.

“I really don’t enjoy pitching at the field just because the field is so short,” said McPherson, a Seaman graduate who played the past two years at Allen County Community College but is undecided on his next school. “You just rely on defense and you have to hit your spots.

“My slider and two-seam were good for me tonight.”

The Giants pounded out 16 hits off four Rattler pitchers. Conner Rule had three hits with a solo homer while Bailey Pattin and MJ Farthing also had three-hit games.

Topeka bounced back from Tuesday’s road doubleheader loss at Liberty.

“It was a good start to the series,” McPherson said. “We definitely need to bring the momentum back tomorrow and try to get a sweep.”

GOLDEN GIANTS 13, RATTLERS 3

Topeka 020 170 21x — 13 16 0

Rossville 000 030 00x — 3 4 4

McPherson, Horak (8) and Kirmer. Michalski, Mah (4), Davis (5), Valenzuela-Reece (8) and Whitworth. W – McPherson. L – Michalski. 2B – Topeka: Pattin. HR – Topeka: Halter, Rule.