Burlington Central 12, Hampshire 2
With two outs in the third inning, Hampshire led Burlington Central 1-0. Then things fell apart for the Whip-Purs. Winning pitcher George Heller's 2-run homer started a 4-run rally, and the Rockets went on to defeat the Whips, 12-2, in 5 innings in a Big Northern East baseball game on Rocket Hill Thursday.
Bryan Bell, Matt Maciaszek and Zach Romando each had 2 hits, Bell also homered, and Austin Jarvis scored 3 times as the Rockets improved to 12-10 overall and 5-4 in the Big Northern East with 1 game left.
The Whips (12-11 overall) finished conference play at 5-5.
Heller's homer seemed to rattle Hampshire starter Eric Chelburg. He walked 2 batters and hit Aaron Mattes with a pitch before Maciaszek's single brought in 2 more runs.
Bell's shot to left center started another uprising in the fourth. His hit was followed by a pair of walks and Mark Gorney plated both runners with a double. A wild pitch and an error scored 2 more.
The Rockets ended the game early by scoring 3 more times in the fifth. Tyler Wilkening's double scored 2.
Drew Perly drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the game-ending run.
"We hadn't been taking a lot of good at-bats lately, and I think we took good at-bats today," said Burlington coach Kyle Nelson.
Hampshire got on the board first on Tyler Bentley's second-inning double. James Goebbert homered for the Whip-Purs' second run.
Other than that, Heller was in command for Central, consistently finding the plate with his curveball. He walked none and struck out seven while going the distance.
"I just felt really good with my curveball," said Heller. "Even with the wind (blowing out), I felt really good."
Hampshire cruised through the first two innings before things suddenly turned around.
"Our pitching went sour, then our defense followed, and then our hitting followed after that, I guess," said Hampshire coach Steve Ream.
The quick change was a microcosm of the Whip-Purs' up-and-down season.
"I don't know which team is going to show up," Ream said.