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Show GAME 1 Schmutz Guns Down Bingham Dave Wlgham Clipper Sports SALT LAKE CITY Watching the first two innings in-nings of the Bingham and Bountiful baseball game, one could sense it was just a matter of time before the Braves would start to hit the Miner hurler. Through those first two innings though the Braves couldn't figure out a way to hit. In the third inning, when many Bountiful hitters faced him for the second time, the Brave bats started to connect. Steve Beyer started things off with a walk, followed promptly by a sharp single to left by catcher Bobby Minhondo. The first run of the game came next with shortstop Todd Beck driving in Beyer with a single. Senior Lex Brown then drove two more across home plate with another sharp single. With Bountiful smoking, Eric Johnson kept things alive with a run producing single of his own. Mike Stevens drew a walk and after another single by Todd Smith, the Braves had the bases loaded. Designated hitter Dave Wilson then worked the pitcher for a walk which drove in another run. Beyer was walked scoring another and the final run came on a pitch that hit Minhondo. All The Runs He Needed Senior Phillip Schmutz had all the runs he needed and then some as the fireball right hander shut the Miners down on just one hit. During the seven innings he struck out 13, including seven in a row at one point. But he also walked eight hitters which is uncommon un-common for him. "I don't really think I was wild. I wasn't sharp I know that. The eight day lay off hurt a little but really I wasn't missing strikes by that far, an inch inside or outside," he noted. Phil went on to add that he was pleased with the strikeouts but that the eight walks bothered him, noting not-ing that that was the most he had ever given up in a game. "The mound at Derks is a little different than what I'm used to. Those professionals that pitch there all the time take bigger strides than I do. They had a hole dug out where their front foot reached and I just wasn't able to get in that stride." Another reason was the fact that his club got him seven runs early. "I knew they wouldn't score that many off me so maybe I relaxed a little too much. I'm pleased we won and was pleased to an extent about my performance." The easy first-round win sent the Braves against a bulligerant Granite squad. |