Burlington Central misses out on chance to clinch
ROCKFORD - The Burlington Central baseball team took its margin for error a bit too literally here Tuesday.
Entering the 2-game series opener at second-place Rockford Christian, the first-place Rockets needed one victory to seal the outright title in the Big Northern Conference's East Division.
However, the Royal Lions handed Burlington Central a 6-2 defeat, the Rockets' first setback in conference play this season. Junior right-hander Alec Powell improved to 8-0 by holding Central (21-7, 11-1) to 2 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks over 6⅓ innings. He struck out 6.
Meanwhile, Rockford Christian (27-5, 11-2) collected 8 hits and capitalized on 5 Central errors.
The Rockets can still win the BNC-East title outright with a victory in the series finale with the Royal Lions on Thursday on Rocket Hill. If Rockford Christian sweeps the series, Central would have to defeat Harvard in its BNC-East finale next Monday just to gain a share of the title for the second straight season.
"We kind of beat ourselves, I feel," said Wiss, who uncharacteristically committed 2 errors. "We should have been out here ready to play. I don't know if we felt the conference title was on the line or what. We could have had it so it's kind of a disappointment for us.
"We have to come out strong on Thursday. We have to show them that we're the better team and that we're going to beat them."
When Powell grew tired and found himself in trouble in the top of the seventh after 101 pitches, shortstop Nolan Gazouski relieved him with one out and the bases loaded. After Gazouski issued a walk to Drew Wiss that made it a 6-2 game and brought the potential tying run to the plate, he struck out Central's Nos. 3 and 4 hitters to end the game.
Rockford Christian managed 6 runs against Central starting pitcher Steve Wisnieski (2-1), though 3 runs were unearned.
"I don't know if it was a lack of focus or what the deal was with our guys, but we just didn't have it for whatever reason," Central coach Kyle Nelson said. "The nice thing about baseball is you don't have to wait a week. We get to play them again on Thursday and get another crack at them. Hopefully, we can win it outright there."
The Rockets had a chance to do damage against Powell in the first inning before he found command of his roundhouse curve, but they let him off the hook. Central loaded the bases no outs, but an infield fly, a strikeout and a groundout quashed the potential rally. The only run of the inning came on a wild pitch that allowed Tanner Smith to score for a 1-0 Central lead.
"Not giving up any more runs there was huge," Powell said. "Getting down 2, 3 runs early wouldn't have been good."
The Royal Lions answered with 2 runs in their half of the first and never trailed again.
"I think if we put up a crooked number or two early, maybe it's a different game," Nelson said.