Six Run Third Sends Ladue to 12-2 Win over Whitfield

The call by Prepcasts broadcast’ owner and chief announcer Bob Ryan was right on the money.

In the home half of the fifth and down 11-2, Whitfield coach Mike Pomatto ordered his pitcher to walk two batters against Ladue and load the bases in a non-league match at the West Ladue campus.

Ryan described what came next on his live internet broadcast: “You know, more times than not when one team intentionally walks the bases loaded, the other team almost always wins on a wild pitch.”

It was if Ryan owned the Ladue Rams play book. Two pitches later, reliever Garrett Blackwell fired the ball low and wide of the Whitfield catcher and Lex Kaplan streaked home for the 12th run of the game, enough for a mercy-rule five inning game-shortened 12-2 victory.

The Rams needed that. They have a game with Kirkwood less than 24 hours later.

Kaplan, icing a sore thumb on a double earlier in the game said it was another quality win. “We batted around well today. Our pitchers were throwing good stuff and Turner (Miller) blasted that home run. He was quick to the ball and it was gone,” said Kaplan, the senior center fielder.

Miller had the key hit in the big six-run Ladue third inning uprising.

Ahead just 3-2 over the Warriors, the Rams chased starter Ian Scharf from the mound.

Kaplan led off the home half of the third with a walk and stole second on the pitcher. Miller cold-cocked his two run homer over the left field fence and the Rams led 5-2. Jason Sandler belted a double down the right field line. Hamm Hooper smashed a double to left, scoring Sandler for a 6-2 lead. Greg Gannon then reached on an error by the third baseman.

Rob Ewald walked and the bases were loaded with no outs. Shortstop Dan Scheinbein delivered an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Hooper. John Cline, in a courtesy runners spot for the pitcher scored on a double steal to up the lead to 8-2.

Gannon’s day was done on the mound and C.J. Goeckner came in and pitched the rest of the way.

“We did a nice job. We had a good approach to the game, especially our batters at the plate,” said Rams coach Rob Garrett.

Is Ladue, 16-7 peaking at the right moment? “I hope we are,” said the coach. “I know Turner (Miller) had a big hit for us. Lex (Kaplan) and Lucas (Tamaren) are driving the ball and we are winning.”

And broadcaster Bob Ryan is predicting those wild pitches following intentional walks. Nice call “coach Ryan.