Griffons drop close game to visiting Broncos

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Griffons continued their struggles against upper-echelon teams in the Jayhawk League Tuesday, falling to the El Dorado (Kan.) Broncos 3-2.

The Griffons had key baserunning miscues and failed to capitalize at the plate with runners on base as they dropped their fifth-place league record to 8-14 (20-16 overall).

The Broncos struck first when Miles Durham drew a two-out walk from Nevada starter Brett Brandon (1-3). Durham stole second and scored on a single by Derick Schermerhorn.

The Broncos again took advantage of a Brandon walk in the fourth inning when Mike Jaworski drew the free pass leading off.

After being sacrificed to second, Jaworski scored on a single by Brad Miller to give El Dorado a 2-0 lead.

The Griffons answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth when Mickey Nichol led off with a single. Hunter Johnson sacrificed Nichol to second.

After a groundout by Michael Flower, Kyle Moore continued his offensive resurgence with an RBI single to drive in Nichol.

Things looked promising for the Griffons in the fifth when Tim Santiago drew a walk to lead off. Santiago was caught leaning though, and was picked off first by El Dorado starter Joe Guntz (2-0).

Matt Lawson later singled and the Griffons were left to wonder what could have been.

Lawson himself had been a victim of a pick-off by Guntz in the third inning after another single.

Nevada coach John Hill III was frustrated after the game, having now watched seven Griffons get picked off in 22 Jayhawk League games.

"It's the little things," Hill said. "The disappointing thing tonight is usually (mistakes) come from inexperience. That (baserunning) was just maddening."

The Broncos scored in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. Rusty Jones reached on an error by the usually sure-handed Lawson at shortstop. After being sacrificed to second, Jones stole third -- one of seven stolen bases for the Broncos in the game.

A single by Durham drove Jones in.

The Griffons cut the lead to one in the seventh inning thanks to an El Dorado error. Santiago walked with one out. Tim Ryan followed with a ground ball to second base that Breck Draper threw into left field, allowing Santiago to go to third. Lawson followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Santiago, making the score 3-2. Ryan went to third on the play but was left there when Chris Taylor struck out.

In the eighth inning Nevada had their best chance to tie the game and possibly even take the lead.

Hunter Johnson singled to right with one out and went to second when right fielder Marty Dewees misplayed the ball.

Michael Flower struck out, then Kyle Moore and Bill Disselhoff walked to load the bases.

Santiago was unable to come up with the clutch hit though, as he struck out to end the inning.

In all, the Griffons left nine runners on base.

Hill was growing tired of the undisciplined approach that was evident in the game. He pointed to two strikeouts by Flower with runners in scoring position and the strikeout by Santiago in the eighth. Hill said the players didn't shorten their swings with two strikes and it cost them.

"The older guys should know better, but they didn't make adjustments," he said. "And Brett Brandon giving leadoff walks and not holding runners on. Stuff like that adds up."

Brandon walked five, twice leading off the inning. The Broncos stole five of their seven bases off Brandon in his five innings of work. Nate Rowe pitched the last four innings for Nevada, allowing only three hits and no runs.