Wichita Sluggers skim Outlaws for crown

Midwest City will play at Ada at 4 p.m. Friday in a doubleheader.

“Their pitcher kept it down and away from us,” Outlaws head coach Doug Weese said. “This kid was pretty smart the way he pitched us. We have hit very well for the most part. We’ve got seven or eight guys (Alex Polston, Blake Stringer, Kaleb Matthews, Landon Coon, Taylor Hawkins, Tanner Hessman and Joel Davis) that are wearing it out.”

Post 170 has committed 41 errors in its 26 contests and lost a ball in the twilight in the finals that cost it a pair of runs versus Wichita.

“They’re (the Outlaws defense) getting better,” Weese said. “We (have) a ways to go to get where we want to go defensively, and offensively I need those eighth and ninth guys to hit.”

The Outlaws won eight games through last week, finally hitting a bump in the road with a pool play 6-5 setback to the Southwest Shockers on June 11. Midwest City beat Ada twice during the week and did avenge a different loss to the Southwest Shockers.

In the semifinals in the bottom of the sixth inning, Midwest City was even with Oklahoma Baseball Academy 5-5 before Hawkins blasted a grand slam for the avenging victory. OBA was 2-0 against Post 170 prior to the semis and actually handed the Outlaws their first loss in the opening contest of the season in a Memorial Day tournament at Rose State College.

Hessman and Coon each finished 2-for-3 while Hawkins wound up 2-for- 4 and Davis 1-for-2.

90 TO NOTHING

Kevin Hill struck out a dozen for the win and reached 90 mph on the radar gun.

Post 170 also picked up a victory over Wichita Red and downed Ada 12-10 in the first round of the tourney June 9.

To take the lead over Ada after being knotted up at 10 late, Eddie Kieffer doubled before Davis (3-for-4) struck for a run-scoring double, and Polston (2-for-2, 2-run HR) drove in Davis. Kieffer, a catcher who will attend Murray State, actually began the 2011 summer season a perfect 8-for-8.

Stringer (2-for-2) also added a home run as Coon batted 3-for-4, Matthews 2-for-4 and Hessman, who has only been thrown out once all season attempting to steal, finished 2-for-5.

Mark Meadors picked up the pitching victory on the mound and a 4-6-3 double play ended the game from Davis to Polston to Stringer. The Outlaws infield has turned 19 double plays in just 26 games as Coon at third base frequently has gotten into the mix as well.

Weese also emphasized the need to improve their baserunning, as the Outlaws have been giving away outs on the basepaths.

“Aggressive I like, but some of these guys got to realize they can’t outrun the ball. We’ve got to get that fixed.”

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