Palmer, South Elgin blank Larkin
South Elgin’s David Palmer was on a pitch count of 80 on Tuesday in his first out of the season.
The senior was efficient against Larkin, throwing just 78 pitches in six innings of work to pitch up the victory as the Storm beat the Royals, 6-0, in an Upstate Eight Conference game at South Elgin.
“A little rusty. It’s been a while,” Palmer said. “I was trying to throw strikes as much as I can. Pitch to contact in the cold weather like this.”
Palmer, a right-hander, allowed 4 hits. He struck out three, walked three and hit a batter. He also went 2-for-3 with a double at the plate.
“He pitched very well,” Storm coach Jim Kating said. “It’s how you persevere and get through things has to be your mindset on days like today. I think he did very good job of that.”
The Storm (1-1, 1-0) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After Riley Halter was hit by a pitch, Palmer drew a walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Justin Bryski. Alex Wolfe singled up the middle and drove in Halter and sent Bryski to third. Joe Crivilio then hit an infield popup that was dropped by the Larkin shortstop, who then threw the ball away trying to get Wolfe at second base. The throwing error allowed Bryski to score.
Palmer doubled to lead off the third and was again replaced by Bryski, who scored on an RBI groundout from Crivilio.
South Elgin added 3 runs in the fifth off reliever Jon Lenz. Palmer led off with a single and was run for by Bryski once again. A fielder’s choice that did not produce an out put two runners on. Crivilio singled to drive in Bryski and Wolfe for a 5-0 lead. Nicholas Binder later scored on a wild pitch.
Jack McCracken (1-1) suffered the loss for Larkin. The junior right-hander went four innings, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs, 2 earned. He struck out five, walked two and hit a batter. The Royals (2-1, 0-1) managed just 4 hits, two of them infield singles.
“We put the ball in play. Did we rip the cover off the ball? No, but I don’t think that was our biggest problem today,” Royals coach Matt Esterino said. “We mentally and physically made a couple of mistakes early that allowed them to jump out to a lead.”