Miller baseball team dispatches Fork Union Military

By: DREW GOODMAN | Daily Progress correspondent
Published: March 22, 2012 Updated: March 22, 2012 - 11:00 PM

After a tough loss to Fuqua on Tuesday, the Miller baseball team bounced back and cruised passed Fork Union Military Academy, 5-1, on Thursday afternoon.

Miller starting pitcher Jeremy Walker pitched a complete game, striking out four batters while allowing just four hits.

?[Jeremy] did exactly what I was looking for,? Miller coach Sam Beale said. ?He just stepped up and threw strikes the whole game. He just kept cramming the ball in the zone all day and he only walked two batters. We needed somebody to step up and he did that today for us.?

Fork Union struck first when Mike Kloskey drove in future Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg on a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

The Mavericks responded in a big way in the bottom of the third. After Fork Union pitcher T.J. Dudley walked Jeremy Benner, Sam Ridenhour laid down a bunt and reached first base safely to record the first hit of the day for the Mavericks. Benner and Ridenhour were driven home on the next two at bats as Miller took a 2-1 lead.

?The third inning was good,? Beale said. ?Sam [Ridenhour] is an incredible bunter. That?s his third base hit off of a bunt. He kind of got it going for us.?

Miller continued to build its lead in the fourth inning. A single by Mike Daily drove home Henley Steele, and the Blue Devils walked in another run.?Miller was well balanced on offense as four different Mavericks recorded an RBI.

?We made big plays today,? Beale said. ?You?re going to make some mistakes, but the key is to make a big play when you need to. Things like that win ball games.?

Up next for the Mavericks is a clash with Covenant. Miller and the Eagles split the two meetings last year, with Covenant winning the last meeting 5-0. Beale stresses the importance of this rivalry game, and feels that the win over Fork Union gives his team the confidence it needs.

?I think we?re ready for them,? Beale said. ?They?ve whipped us several times in the last few years but I think we?re in a good spot now. I can tell that we had more chemistry today and that?s a good thing.?

Source: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/sports/2012/mar/22/miller-baseball-team-dispatches-fork-union-militar-ar-1786963/

chipper jones pat robertson tori spelling jim yong kim george zimmerman ohio state basketball michael bush