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2013 Game Summaries
Bartlesville 8 Pembroke Hill 2
March 26, 2013
Bartlesville, OK:
The Raiders once again traveled to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to play their opening game of the year . Tyler LaPlante started the season off on the mound for the Raiders. The Raiders defense was pretty solid but they were unable to heat the bats up in time; ultimately, leading to a defeat by the score of 8-2.
Pembroke Hill 7 Oak Grove 2
March 29, 2013
Oak Grove, MO
The Raiders traveled to Oak Grove to face the Panthers in what was sure to be another classic game between the two teams. Once again the Raider were defensively sound, and they were able to score seven (7) runs to accompany an outstanding pitching performance resulting in a 7-2 victory.
Pembroke Hill 6 Savannah 5
April 1, 2013
KCMO 3&2, Kansas City, MO
The Raiders played their first home game on April Fool’s Day against Savannah High School. The Raiders were hot coming off a win at Oak Grove, looking to win in similar fashion. With senior Sam Thomas on the mound, the Raiders acquired an early 3-1 lead, which they held for most of the game. However, Savannah came back in the 6th and 7th innings and gained a 5-3 lead. Things were looking rather bleak for the Raiders when the bottom of the 7th rolled around, but the Raiders never quit for a second. The Raiders flew out of the gate with a no-out rally, quickly tying the game on a clutch hit by Senior Ryan Hesse. With the bases still loaded, junior when Asher Abrahms walked up to the plate. Swiftly, Abrahms launched the ball over the left fielder’s head for a walk-off hit. The Raiders never gave up, upsetting Savannah 6-5 in their first home game.
Pembroke Hill 3 Maryville 2
April 2, 2013
Maryville, MO
The Raiders traveled to Maryville on April 2nd, this game showcased another great pitching battle. Pembroke took a 2-1 lead early in the game and were able to keep it for the majority. However, in the six inning Maryville was able to tie the game up at 2. The clutch Raiders would however go on to win the game with big time at bats. Pembroke’s bats seem to be heating up nicely as the season moves forward.
Clinton Tournament
Game 1:
Pembroke Hill 15 Eldorado Springs 0
April 5, 2013
Clinton, MO
After playing reasonably close games with El Dorado Springs the last two years and coming off a disappointing loss against Liberty North, the Raiders came up with an important win against El Dorado Springs. Sam Thomas pitched the game and everyone contributed offensively in a 14-0 victory. The game set the tone for winning the Clinton tournament and the nine game winning streak the Raider’s are currently on.
Game 2:
Pembroke Hill 12 Adrian 2
April 6, 2013
Clinton, MO
In the second game of the Clinton Tournament the Raiders cruised to another lopsided victory. The Raiders run-spread Adrian in five innings by a score of twelve to two. Sean Reardon threw a complete came in his first varsity start and the offense got contributions from the top of the lineup to the bottom. This win added to the confidence the Raiders had coming off of their win against El Dorado.
Pembroke Hill Classic
Game 1:
Pembroke Hill 2 Savannah 1
April 12, 2013
KCMO 3&2, Kansas City, MO
The Raiders kicked off their own tournament on April 12th against Savannah, a team the Raiders just narrowly defeated earlier in the season. Junior Tyler LaPlante gave a stellar performance on the mound once again, holding the tough Savannah offense to only one run. In similar fashion to their previous meeting, the Raiders narrowly defeated the Savannah Bulldogs 2-1, gaining an early lead in the tournament.
Pembroke Hill Classic
Game 2:
Pembroke Hill 11 Pleasant Hill 4
April 13, 2013
KCMO 3&2, Kansas City, MO
April 13th featured a double-header for the Raiders in the second day of the tournament. The Raiders’ first opponent of the day was Pleasant Hill, a team the Raiders’ had continually fallen short to in recent years. The Raiders performed incredibly well in the batters box and on the field, scoring 11 runs early and keeping Pleasant Hill scoreless until late in the game. After 7 innings, the Raiders gained their second victory in the tournament, defeating Pleasant Hill 11-4. This marked the end of the Raiders’ long losing streak against Pleasant Hill.
Pembroke Hill Classic
Game 3:
Pembroke Hill 10 Grandview 0
April 13, 2013
KCMO 3&2, Kansas City, MO
In the final game of the tournament, the Raiders faced Grandview, a team the Raiders have not seen the last of. This game was quite possibly ace pitcher Sam Thomas’ best start of the season. Thomas held Grandview scoreless, while striking out 10 and throwing 15/19 first pitch strikes. The Raiders, as they normally do, brought the bats again. Junior Tyler LaPlante, returning half way through the game after taking the ACT, arrived with a boom, hitting a crucial inside-the-park home run. The Raiders defeated Grandview 10-0, winning their second tournament of the week.
2011 Game Summaries
Oak Grove 8 Pembroke Hill 2 (Semi-Finals of District Tournament)
ODESSA, MO – The Raiders ran up against a formidable Oak Grove Panther baseball team in their district semi-final loss, ending the seaon with an 11-11 record. The Panthers scored two in the first and two in the second to take an early 4-0 lead. The Raiders mounted a little rally of their own in the top of the third, plating one runner. In the fifth, the Raiders found themselves down 5-2 with two outs and runners on second and third. Senior Jamie Lewis finished a very competitive at bat by lining a two-strike pitch right at the 2B who caught the liner for the thrid out and ended the inning. That was as close as the Raiders got. The Panters tacked on two in the bottom of the fifth and one in the bottom of the 6th to make the final margin 8-2. Senior Charley Doering pitched well for the Raiders, and junior Isaac Wurth came out of the pen in the bottom of the sixth to prevent an Oak Grove rally.
Pembroke Hill 21 Center 0 (District Game 1)
ODESSA, MO – To kick off post-season play, the Pembroke Hill Raiders were matched up against 5-seeded Center High School. Pembroke sent out pitcher Richard Moriarty to keep the Center bats cool. Richard commanded the zone and fulfilled his duty skillfully, pitching 4 shutout innings. But he did not need to be so flawless, as the Raider offense provided more than enough cushion. Isaac Wurth got 4 hits, Luke Butler got 3, and Moriarty added 6 RBI’s to seize Pembroke’s single-season RBI record (35). Something else equally important though, Pembroke played a crisp game to get Districts started, as Richard and reliever Isaac Jaramillo allowed 0 walks. Add that to some solid defensive plays by Cruz Wiles and Jamie Lewis, and the Raiders start out with a 21-0 victory.
Rockhurst 8 Pembroke Hill 1
KANSAS CITY, MO – A big game for the Raiders, as local athletic powerhouse Rockhurst High School traveled in to challenge Pembroke, both schools wanting a clean exhibition before their respective District tournaments. Pembroke put Pembroke’s Athlete of the Year, Charley Doering, on the mound to face the Hawklets. Against one of the most potent offenses Mr. Doering had come across in his time, Charley held the opposing bats to a scoreless first inning. Rockhurst’s defense answered with a shutout inning of their own, and then exploded with 5 runs in the 2nd inning. Not to be discouraged, Charley stayed strong and ended up completing the game, surrendering only 3 more runs throughout the remainder of the contest. Pembroke’s offense was never able to string their offensive production, though, as their 7 hits were only able to manufacture 1 run. The Raiders lost 8-1, but played a sound game.
Pembroke Hill 9 Midland Monarchs 3
KANSAS CITY, MO – In the second half of the double header, Pembroke put senior lefty Paul Black on the mound to sweep the Monarchs. In 3 innings, he gave up only 1 earned run and 2 hits. The Raider offense was able to outperform their opponents, as the heart of the order all produced runs. The 2-6 hitters (Black, Kipke, Moriarty, Butler, and Lewis) all added an RBI to the team’s total, and 7 of Pembroke’s batters were disciplined enough to draw a walk. A scoreless inning of sore-elbowed labor by Sam Thomas helped the Raiders through the 4th inning, and Isaac Jaramillo closed the night-shortened game in the 5th. Pembroke won, 9-3.
Pembroke Hill 5 Midland Monarchs 3
KANSAS CITY, MO – Pembroke invited the Midland Monarchs to a double-header – the first game being 7 innings, the second 5. In the introductory game, Richard Moriarty pitched a complete game, surrendering only 1 earned run on 2 hits. He got some help from the Raider lineup, as Isaac Wurth chalked up 3 hits, Paul Black crossed the plate twice, and David Kipke knocked in 2 runs. Moriarty also tallied his 5th home run of the season (the fact that this ties a school record won’t be mentioned for superstitious reasons). Pembroke won the game, 5-3.
Pembroke Hill 1 Bishop LeBlond 0
KANSAS CITY, MO – In a rematch of the 2010 Sectionals matchup, Pembroke played Bishop LeBlond at home. Pitcher Charley Doering was called upon to take the rubber. Unfortunately for Charley, the Raider offense didn’t give him much help. Just 3 hits (by David Kipke, Richard Moriarty, and Charley Doering himself) were only able to create a single run for the entire game. But Doering decided that a single run was all he’d need. He kept batters off balance with a dazzling combination of powerful fastballs and tantalizing curves. He kept it going all game, and had a complete game shutout. Pembroke won, 1-0.
St. Pius X 7 Pembroke Hill 1
KANSAS CITY, MO – The Raiders took the field to play their rivals from St. Pius X High School, utilizing Isaac Wurth on the mound. Unfortunately, the Pius pitcher came with some good stuff – including a hard to hit fastball – and kept the Pembroke lineup mostly subdued. The Raiders got 3 hits in the game, and manufactured a run out of the deal with some aggressive baserunning, but it was not enough. Wurth and reliever Richard Moriarty allowed 7 Pius runs to cross the plate, and the game finished with a score of 7-1 in favor of St. Pius.
Pembroke Hill 14 Lawson 12
SMITHVILLE, MO – In the final game of the Smithville Tournament, Pembroke played Lawson in an attempt to achieve their first win of the Round Robin. Shane Davies took the mound to begin the game, but the Raiders’ bullpen made it a team effort. The Pembroke offense had to outweigh the steady stream of runs put up by the Lawson bats (Lawson scored runs in each of the first 5 innings). In the topsy-turvy contest, the Pembroke lineup was able to consistently produce runs as well. They turned 9 hits into 14 runs, due to some key hits from David Kipke (6 TB, 3 RBI) among others. Going into the final inning with a 12-12 tie, the Raiders scored two runs and pitcher Isaac Wurth shut the Lawson opponents down. Pembroke went home on a 14-12 win.
Liberty North 5 Pembroke Hill 3
SMITHVILLE, MO – In the second game of the Smithville Tournament, the Raiders were matched up against an Eagles squad from inaugural Liberty North High School. After Pembroke put up a run in the first, Liberty North scored 5 runs in the second inning. Liberty North would not score again as the two teams fought virtually into a stalemate for the remainder of the game. Finally in the 7th inning, the Raiders put some runs on the board. They scored two, making it a 5-3 game. Then, with one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd, a line drive to the shortstop turned into the end of the game, as a Raider runner was doubled off at 2nd, ending the game. Pembroke lost 5-3.
Smithville 13 Pembroke Hill 3
SMITHVILLE, MO – In the first game of the Smithville Tournament, Pembroke played the hosts from Smithville High School. The powerful Smithville lineup was tough to tame, as they continued to pull hard line drives to the left side of the field. The Pembroke offense was unable to make up the difference – even with two hits from Richard Moriarty and Isaac Wurth – as the Raiders lost 13-3.
Pembroke Hill 7 Turner 2
KANSAS CITY, KS– Pembroke travelled to Turner High School, throwing lefty Isaac Wurth against the Turner Bears. Wurth quickly took command of the strike zone, only giving up one earned run in 7 innings of complete game work. The Pembroke offense was also able to do their job. Luke Butler had 3 hits and 3 RBI’s, and David Kipke hit his 3rd home run of the season as the Raiders left with a 7-2 win.
O’Hara 7 Pembroke Hill 2
KANSAS CITY, MO – District rival O’Hara came to Kansas City, MO 3&2 to play Pembroke, with the memories of last year’s District Championship nail-biter still fresh. Senior Charley Doering started the game for the Raiders as pitcher. Unfortunately, the Celtics offense produced 7 runs during the game, and in surprising fashion, Pembroke was only able to manufacture 2 runs out of their 8 hits. The Raiders lost, 7-2.
Grain Valley 16 Pembroke Hill 3
KANSAS CITY, MO – Nothing much to see here. Undefeated Class 4 Grain Valley came to play Pembroke, and showed why they were undefeated. Pembroke lost 16-3. We won’t see them post-season. We move on.
Pembroke Hill 14 Bolivar 7
CLINTON, MO – In Pembroke’s final game of the Round Robin, they played Bolivar. Without much rest coming off the topsy-turvy El Dorado Springs game, the Raiders quickly fell behind 5-0 in the first inning. With drained energy and a fatigued pitching staff, Pembroke turned towards dependable left-handed senior Paul Black. When the team needed him most, he only gave up 2 runs and ate up 5 and 1/3 solid innings. Pembroke steadily came back from their early deficit. They decided to have their runs scored column match the inning; they scored 2 in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd, 4 in the 4th, and 5 in the 5th. In this sequence, Richard Moriarty, Jackson Schroeder, and Cruz Wiles all got 2 RBI, and Jamie Lewis chalked up 3 of his own. Freshman Tyler LaPlante finished the game on the mound, recording his first two varsity outs, and the Raiders won the game 14-7.
Pembroke Hill 19 El Dorado Springs 15
CLINTON, MO – The second game of the tournament put the Raiders up against a flashy El Dorado Springs bunch. Sam Thomas got his second start of the season, but had to leave the game early due to elbow pain. Before his exit, he threw two shutout innings, striking out 5. With a Paul Black single, Richard Moriarty double, and a Charley Doering single, Pembroke established a 2-0 first inning lead. Then, in the second, an RBI bunt single by Foster Honeck scored shortstop Cruz Wiles. Shane Davies relieved Sam in the third inning. He gave up one run in each of his first two innings. The Raiders matched that, scoring one run in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th inning. Pembroke then scored 7 runs in the top of the 6th, making it a 13-2 game. El Dorado Springs then exploded to score 13 runs in the bottom of the inning, to gain a 15-13 lead. Pembroke tied it up in the 7th with RBI’s by Paul Black and Jackson Schroeder. Reliever Charley Doering shut the opposition down, and Pembroke’s four runs in the 8th inning gave them a roller coaster 19-15 victory.
Clinton 10 Pembroke Hill 5
CLINTON, MO – The Raiders travelled to Clinton, Missouri for their second out of town trip of the season. Their first matchup was against a fine squad from hosting Clinton High School. Given ample rest, Richard Moriarty started his second consecutive game on the mound. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he battled like a warrior and prevented any serious damage, surrendering five earned runs in five innings. None of those runs came in the first inning; Pembroke’s lone hit and crafty base running earned them three runs in the first, pushing them out to a 3-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Raiders wouldn’t strike again until the 6th inning, scoring two runs, but by that point the Cardinals had put enough on the board to hold a 6-5 lead. Clinton then scored four in the last inning, and Pembroke lost 10-5.
Savannah 10 Pembroke Hill 5
KANSAS CITY, MO – Pembroke’s next game matched them up against a Class 3 Savannah team with an experienced lineup. Opening Day starter Richard Moriarty had the difficult job of shutting down the Savages, and did a respectable job at it, giving up 4 runs in 6 innings of labor. In those 6 innings, the Raiders’ offense provided two runs of their own. David Kipke hit his first home run of the 2011 season – a solo shot in the first. Then a fourth inning single by Andy Levin knocked in Cruz Wiles after Wiles doubled to get on. Unfortunately, things quickly unraveled in the 7th inning. Although Shane Davies commanded the zone, the Savannah bats continued to hit baseballs that found holes, and scored six runs. The Raiders therefore needed to overcome an 8-run deficit in the last inning. Richard Moriarty did all he could by hitting a 3-run home run (his third of the year), but it was ultimately futile. The Raiders lost 10-5.
Pembroke Hill 10 Northridge Prep (IL) 3
KANSAS CITY, MO – Northridge Preparatory School became the second team to make the trip from Chicago to Kansas City, MO 3&2 to play Pembroke in 2011. Sophomore southpaw Sam Thomas recorded his first varsity start on the mound. Thomas did not disappoint. Wasting no time between pitches, Sam’s four scoreless innings went by in a blur – partially due to the fact that he didn’t waste time giving up any of those pesky “hits.” One of the reasons for his hitless pitching was a magnificent play by shortstop Cruz Wiles, where he improbably reached a grounder up the middle, and finished it with an impossible 360 degree throw to nab the runner at first. Pembroke did well with the stick, too. Richard Moriarty hit an RBI triple in the first inning to get the Raiders off on the right foot. Luke Butler then knocked him in with a single. The Raiders scored one run in each of the next three innings, making it 5-0 after four innings. In the 5th, the bats stayed alive; Pembroke scored 3 runs, including a 2-run single by David Kipke. Relief pitchers Paul Black and Shane Davies didn’t give up the lead, and the Raiders finished the game with a 10-3 win.
Truman 4 Pembroke Hill 1
INDEPENDENCE, MO – For their fourth contest of the year, the Raiders made their way to Truman High School to play a Class 4 Patriots team coming off a shutout win against big bopping Blue Springs South. Charley Doering was penned in as the starting pitcher, and did a commendable job of keeping the Truman batters off balance. He held the powerful lineup to just one run in four innings of work. That run came in the 2nd inning. Then, in the top of the third, Pembroke struck back. Cruz Wiles drew a walk, Isaac Jaramillo singled, and Foster Honeck beat out a bunt to load up the bases. In Blue Collar fashion, lead off hitter Paul Black sacrifice bunted Wiles in to score. The score remained tied at 1-1 through the 4th and 5th innings, but a 3-run homerun to a short left field fence gave Truman a 6th inning lead that they would hold for the rest of the game. The Raiders lost, 4-1.
Pembroke Hill 13 Lake Forest Academy (IL) 2
KANSAS CITY, MO – In much the same way that migratory birds fly South to evade harsh winters, so too did the Lake Forest Academy Caxys venture from Chicago to play the Pembroke Hill Raiders this weekend. But in a cruel case of irony, their 500 mile journey only led them to a frigid contest on the frozen tundra. To make matters worse, the Raiders unleashed opening day starter Richard Moriarty on the mound. Although he surrendered two runs in his four innings of labor, he more than made up for it with his 2nd inning Grand Slam. That bomb capped off an impressive two out rally which was sparked by five consecutive walks. Patience at the plate was something the Raiders had on full display during the game; Paul Black, Isaac Wurth, and Isaac Jaramillo combined for nine walks just by themselves. Other noteworthy performances include Paul Black’s scoreless inning of pitching, Jamie Lewis’ varsity shortstop debut (1-1, 1 BB, 2 RBI), and Luke Butler’s game ending snap pick to second base. Pembroke ended up spreading the Caxys after 5 innings, 13-2.
Bartlesville (OK) 9 Pembroke Hill 8
BARTLESVILLE, OK – On a field where legends such as Satchel Paige and Mickey Mantle once played, Pembroke Hill’s starting pitcher Charley Doering was called upon to make history for the Raiders, who were playing a Bartlesville Bruins team that they had never been able to beat. Before he could take his place on the rubber, however, Pembroke’s hitters did their job in the top of the 1st. In true Raider fashion, the offense produced three runs on just one hit. Charley and the opposing pitcher then kept both offenses quiet until the 3rd inning, when Pembroke put two more runs on the board. The Bruins then fought back in the bottom of the inning, scoring three, making it a 5-3 game. Although Doering remained poised on the mound and continued to hit his spots, Bartlesville was able to gain four more runs in the next inning. The Pembroke coaching staff called on junior Shane Davies to send the Bruins back into their dugout, a task he handled like a seasoned veteran. A single by Doering in the 5th brought the Raider deficit back to just one, where it remained until the next inning. To start off the 6th, pinch hitter Jackson Schroeder shot a liner into right field for a single to get the Raiders’ fans back on their feet. Pembroke went on to grab an 8-7 lead during the inning, in part due to some bodacious baserunning by Cruz Wiles. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the Bruins answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the 6th, and the score would remain locked at 9-8 for the remainder of the game. It was a tough loss, but showing clear signs of success and exposing areas for improvement, it was a promising one for Pembroke.
Pembroke Hill 12 Sapulpa (OK) 6
SAPULPA, OK – Coming off their first visit to the State Final Four in 25 years, Pembroke Hill’s baseball team was given a prime opportunity to shake off the rust from a long off-season against a formidable Sapulpa Chieftans squad. It didn’t take long for Richard Moriarty to grow accustomed to the game, though, as he played like a god amongst men. Limited by a cautious early season pitch count, Mighty Mo threw 4 shutout innings. He was helped out by some sharp defense, including an inspirational hustle play where catcher Luke Butler sprinted behind first to swoop up an overthrow, and gunned down a runner foolishly attempting to advance bases. This tense defensive duel soon got exciting for the Raiders, as a scoreless tie disappeared in the 5th inning when Pembroke’s lineup exploded. Luke Butler, Andy Levin, Cruz Wiles, and David Kipke all doubled to get the inning going; throw in some walks, Blue Collar run manufacturing, and Richard’s screaming bomb over the left field wall, and Pembroke had an 8-0 lead. Paul Black then took the mound and shut down the Chieftans’ offense in the bottom of the inning. Pembroke scored 4 more in the top of the 6th, but then allowed the Sapulpa offense to squeak out some runs to make the final score look more tolerable. That score was 12-6, and showed that the Pembroke baseball team was back and ready to play in 2011.
2010 Playoff Game Summaries
Saturday June 5th
State 3rd Place Game
Pembroke Hill 13, Logan-Rogersville 7
Springfield, Missouri- Returning to Meador Park after a tough semifinal loss, the Raiders looked to end their remarkable season with a win against the Wildcats from Logan-Rogersville. Early in the game, it did not look good for the Raiders. In fact, after three and one-half innings, the Raiders trailed by a score of 6-2. However, the Raiders pitching settled down and their bats came alive to spark yet another Pembroke Hill comeback. The Raiders scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to one, and although the Wildcats added to their lead with a lone run in the top of the fifth, the Raiders offensive surge continued. Pembroke put up eight runs in the bottom half of the fifth, establishing a commanding lead. The big inning started when Cruz Wiles poked a single into right field with a runner on first, and it continued with a solid bunt by Isaac Wurth. The top of the order also delivered for the Raiders. Taylor Kiefer and Preston Owen each had RBI singles, and second baseman Joe Wieczkowski provided the dagger with a deep two-run double. The Raiders added a few more runs on a couple wild pitches by Logan-Rogersville, and at the end of the inning, the Raiders held the 13-7 lead. The Raiders offense did swing the sticks well in this game, but it was the pitching of reliever Richard Moriarty that laid the ground-work for the Raiders rally. Moriarty entered the game in the third inning, and allowed the Wildcats to score only one run over his 4+ innings of work. Holding down the Wildcat offense, Moriarty allowed the Raiders’ offense to fight back, and eventually take the six-run lead. With the sizeable lead, the Raiders took the field in the top of the seventh, looking to clinch a third-place finish at State. After retiring the first batter and allowing one man to reach base, Moriarty induced a ground ball to shortstop Cruz Wiles. Wiles scooped the ball, flipped it to Joe Wieczkowski at second, who then threw it over to Richard Wright at first to end the game. The 6-4-3 double-play capped the Raiders victory, and clinched their successful season. The win was a great way for the Raiders to end their stellar 2010 campaign, and the team can now celebrate their 3rd place finish in Missouri Class 3.
Friday June 4th
State Semifinal
Winfield 3, Pembroke Hill 0
Springfield, Missouri- Playing in the state semifinal round for the first time since 1985, the Raiders faced a strong opponent from Winfield High School. Richard Wright took the mound against Warriors, while Winfield’s left-handed ace faced the Raider hitters. In the first inning, the Warriors jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a few base hits and a couple of base-running breaks. In the third, Winfield tacked on one run to their lead when the runner at third base scored on an interesting balk call. However, after the first two innings, Wright was dominant. The Warriors never really threatened to score again over Richard’s seven full innings of work. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the Winfield pitcher was throwing just as well as Wright. The lefty for the Warriors retired the Raiders in order in each of the first four innings. It was not until the fifth that Pembroke Hill managed to register its first hit of the game. However, the game was still close at 3-0, and the Raiders tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. The Raiders got one runner on base to start the inning, and a comeback seemed to be in the making. However, the next two Raiders were retired on very interesting calls at first base, and the Raider rally seemed to be squashed. The Winfield lefty then proceeded to strike out the final batter of the game, sending the Warriors to the championship, and the Raiders to the third-place game. Although the game was close and the loss was very tough to take, the Raiders played with heart and with class, and felt proud of their first appearance at State in twenty-five seasons.
Thursday May 27th
Pembroke Hill 10, Boonville 9
State Quarterfinal
Kansas City, Missouri- Playing at KCMO 3&2, the Raiders came out excited to face a tough opponent from Boonville for the right to advance to the state final four in Springfield. The Raiders’ day did not start out well however, after a few costly errors allowed the Pirates to take an early two-run lead. Although Boonville was able to score twice in the first, big plays from catcher Luke Butler limited the damage. The Raiders, and particularly Butler, struck back in the second when Luke crushed a two-run homer to left field. The long ball was the first of Butler’s varsity career, and it came at a big time for the Raiders. Unfortunately, the Pirates struck back in the bottom of the third with a two-run homer of their own. This smash to deep left-center by the Boonville center fielder put the Pirates up 4-2 after three innings. Although the Pirates managed four runs, Pembroke starting pitcher Charley Doering pitched effectively. Doering gave up only five hits and two earned runs over three innings of solid work. Down only by two, the Raiders threatened to tie the game in the fourth. However, a fine play by the Pirate third baseman on a Joe Wieczkowski line-drive squashed the Raiders rally. In the bottom of the fourth, the Pirate bats came alive with three big runs. The Boonville rally continued into the fifth, where the Pirates built up a 9-2 lead. Although the damage was significant, pitcher Shane Davies was able to limit the harm, and Richard Moriarty took the mound and put out the fire. The situation after five innings seemed grim for the Raiders, but they had faced this type of deficit before, and knew that a comeback was possible. In the top of the sixth, Pembroke scratched for a pair of runs to tighten the gap. A base hit by pinch hitter David Kipke sparked the Raiders to start the top of the sixth inning, and big at-bats from Taylor Kiefer and Joe Wieczkowski helped the Raiders plate two. Although the
Raiders still trailed by a count of 9-4 after Moriarty pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth, the seeds for a rally were already sown. With the crowd at their backs, the Raiders started the top of the seventh with a big walk from Paul Black. After Boonville recorded the first out of the inning, Pembroke Hill responded by loading the bases with a Cruz Wiles hit-by-pitch and a walk to right-fielder Isaac Wurth. After Wurth’s walk, the Pirates changed pitchers, bringing their center-fielder to the mound. The new Boonville pitcher was never able to find the zone, walking Taylor Kiefer, Joe Wieczkowski, and Preston Owen to make the ballgame close at 9-6. Although the Raiders did a lot of walking in the seventh, by far the biggest at-bat came from first baseman Richard Wright. After falling behind quickly 0-2, Wright began to battle the third Pirate pitcher of the ballgame. Fouling off pitch after pitch, Wright looked to be in control. Richard waited and waited for his pitch to come, and after what seemed like an eternity, Wright came through with a clutch two-RBI base hit scoring Wurth and Kiefer. The Raiders now trailed by only one run with Richard Moriarty in the box. Before Moriarty even saw a solid strike, the Pirate pitcher uncorked a wild pitch. With the ball rolling to the backstop, Wieczkowski sprinted home from third base as the throw from the catcher flew passed the pitcher covering home. Preston Owen, advancing from second to third, saw the overthrow and took off for the plate. With the Pirate infielders unable to recover in time, Owen slid across home with the go-ahead run. Although Boonville was able to collect two quick outs, the improbable comeback had already occurred, and the Raiders simply had to hold the Pirates scoreless for three more outs. Richard Moriarty quickly retired the first hitter on a foul pop-out. The second Pirate hitter then flied to left where Andy Levin made a fine catch for the second out. Only one out away from a truly unbelievable victory, the Raiders allowed two men to reach base for the number five hitter in the Pirate lineup. With the pressure mounting, Moriarty shut the door when his 0-2 curveball was swung-on and missed by the final Boonville batter. The game was over and the Raiders rushed the field, celebrating their quarterfinal victory, and looking forward to their chance to compete in the Class 3 final four in Springfield.
Tuesday May 25th
Pembroke Hill 4, Bishop LeBlond 0
Sectional Playoffs
St. Joseph, Missouri- The Raiders traveled to classic Phil Welch stadium in St. Joseph to take on the Golden Eagles from Bishop LeBlond. In the Raiders first non-district playoff game in nearly two decades, Pembroke played a clean, efficient ballgame to survive and advance. Leading the Raiders was starting pitcher Richard Wright, whose seven shutout innings were more than enough to clinch a victory. Wright dominated the Eagle hitters all evening, racking up the strikeouts and keeping a low pitch-count. The Raider defense also gave the team a big lift. In particular, left fielder David Kipke and center fielder Paul Black each made big plays on fly balls to help silence the LeBlond offense. On the offensive side of the ball, the Raiders managed single runs in four separate innings. The Raider offense got started when Paul Black laid down a perfect bunt to reach base in the second. Then, shortstop Cruz Wiles came up big with a suicide squeeze to bring home the Raiders first run. Later in the game, Taylor Kiefer laced a line-drive into left-center for a lead off triple. Kiefer scored on a Richard Wright ground ball, and the Raiders took a two run lead. Although this turned out to be plenty of run support for Wright, the Raiders tacked on two more runs when Richard Moriarty battled for an RBI hit, and Richard Wright helped himself out with an RBI base knock up the middle. For the Raiders, the 4-0 victory was a big win, allowing them to continue their playoff journey.
Friday May 21st
Pembroke Hill 5, O’Hara 4 (8 innings)
District Championship
Harrisonville, Missouri- In one of the greatest baseball games in recent Pembroke Hill memory, the Raiders took on their rivals from O’Hara for the district championship. Facing, for the second time this season, the Celtics left-handed ace, the Raiders knew they would be in for a tough battle. For the Raiders, junior Charley Doering took the mound in what was, without a doubt, the biggest game of his pitching career. Doering was very sharp for the Raiders, holding the Celtics to only two runs through the first four innings. However, the Raiders offense was unable to find its stride, and Pembroke trailed the Celtics. Doering continued to pitch very well for Pembroke, but a few untimely errors by the Raiders’ defense allowed the Celtics to build a seemingly large 3-1 lead heading into the sixth inning. With Taylor Kiefer leading off the top half of the 6th, the Raiders offense finally came to life. Kiefer reached base on a solid hit, and Preston Owen followed with a clutch RBI line drive. Next to the plate was Richard Wright, who drove home Owen with a deep double to bring the game to a 3-3 tie. Pinch hitter David Kipke was next up for the Raiders. After falling behind in the count, Kipke struck out, but his great hustle on a dropped third strike proved to be one of the biggest plays of the game. With Kipke sprinting to first, Richard Wright took off for third base. Thanks to great base-running by both Kipke and Wright, the Celtics mishandled the throw down to first. Seeing the bobble, Richard Wright headed for home, and he beat the first baseman’s throw, giving the Raiders their first lead of the game at 4-3. However, O’Hara was not going to go away quietly. In the bottom of the sixth, the Celtics managed to get two runners on base for their big-time hitter, Aaron Stubblefield. Facing this tough situation, Charley Doering came up huge for the Raiders, limiting the Celtics to a sacrifice fly and only one-run in this pivotal situation. Heading into the seventh, the game was all tied at four. Although the Raiders went down without scoring in the top of the seventh, relief pitcher Shane Davies came through big for the team, mowing down the Celtics in order in their half of the final inning of regulation. As they have done so many times this season, the Raiders entered extra innings looking for a clutch victory. First up for the Raiders in the decisive eighth inning was senior captain Joe Wieczkowski. After battling the Celtics’ pitcher, Joe crushed a line-drive to deep left-center. Thinking triple out of the batter’s box, Wieczkowski forced the Celtics to make a play. As Joe motored towards third, O’Hara’s relay throw from the shortstop sailed over the third base dugout, and Joe’s hustle was rewarded with the most important run of the game, the season, and the recent Blue Collar Baseball program. The Raiders took the 5-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth. With Shane Davies on the mound, the Raiders recorded the first out of the inning on a grounder to second base. Unfortunately, the Celtics next hitter reached first base on a single, giving the Celtics a little momentum. However, with the game on the line, the Raiders called a pickoff, and Davies delivered. With the runner wiped off of first base, the Raiders were only one out away from a championship. Although the next two Celtics reached base, the last batter of the game rolled a ground ball to the first baseman, Richard Wright, who stepped on first, clinching the Raiders’ victory. For the first time since 1990, the Pembroke Hill Raiders won the District Championship.
Friday May 21st
Harrisonville 0, Pembroke Hill 7
District Semi-final
Harrisonville, Missouri- Due to seemingly unending rain at KCMO 3&2, the final two rounds of district play had to be moved to Harrisonville. After winning their first round game, the Raiders were set to take on the #3 seeded Wildcats from Harrisonville High School. In the second of the two semi-final games, the Raiders jumped out early against the Wildcats, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. The #2 seeded Raiders got on the scoreboard after David Kipke delivered a big two-RBI base hit scoring Joe Wieczkowski and Preston Owen, and a big at-bat from Richard Moriarty helped the Raiders get their third run of the inning across the plate. Although these three runs would prove to be more than enough, the Raiders added on four more. In the third, Richard Wright led off with a double. The Raiders played effective small ball in this inning, moving the runner over to third on a sacrifice bunt, and adding the fourth tally with a sacrifice fly. Up 4-0 in the fourth inning, the Raiders added three runs of insurance with hits from Isaac Wurth, Joe Wieczkowski, and Richard Wright. Although Wright did have a big game at the plate, it was his performance on the mound that was truly spectacular. Facing a strong Harrisonville line-up, Richard pitched seven full innings of shutout baseball, holding the Wildcats to only 2 hits and only 5 total base-runners. Wright also struck out four, and received help from solid defense, especially from catcher Luke Butler. For the Raiders, the victory was nice, but they would soon have to turn their attention to some familiar foes in the championship game.
Pembroke Hill 10, KC East 0
2010 Varsity Regular Season Game Summaries
Saturday May 8th
Warrensburg 8, Pembroke Hill 2
Kansas City, MO-In their second game of the day, the Raiders faced a very strong opponent from Warrensburg High School. The Tigers and Raiders engaged in a pitchers duel for the first six innings of the game. After six, the Tigers led the Raiders by only one run, and the contest was certainly up for grabs. Richard Wright had a stellar performance for the Raiders, holding the potent Warrensburg lineup to only three runs over five innings. Although the Raiders offense did not have its best game of the year, Wright delivered with a couple of big hits, and Preston Owen sparked the offense with a few walks, enabling the Raiders to keep the game close until the seventh. Unfortunately, the Tigers offense came to life in the seventh with two big home runs. Although they managed five runs, the damage could have been worse if not for a stellar diving stop at second base by Joe Wieczkowski. In the bottom of the seventh the Raiders were unable to come up with any offense, and the score remained 8-2. The loss was tough for Pembroke Hill, but the game provided the team with good experience against a high-quality team like Warrensburg.
Saturday May 8th
Grandview 8, Pembroke Hill 9
Kansas City, MO- The Raiders hosted the Grandview Bulldogs in a makeup from the rained out Pembroke Hill Tournament. With Charlie Doering on the mound, the Raiders held Grandview to only five runs through the first five innings. And the Raiders offense was able to build and maintain a lead. Behind big hits from Richard Wright and catcher Luke Butler, the Raiders built a 7-5 lead after five innings. However, after a few seeing-eye singles in the sixth inning, the Bulldogs managed to tie the game at seven, and in the top of the seventh, Grandview took an 8-7 lead. Facing a loss, the Raiders came up with a run early in the seventh, and soon found themselves with a man on third and one out. Trying to hold onto the tie, Grandview walked the bases loaded. In a pressure situation, junior Richard Moriarty stepped up the plate, and after a few pitches, came through with a game-winning single right back up the middle. The Raiders walk-off win showed their mental toughness and determination, and gave them momentum heading into the second game of their Saturday double-header.
Tuesday May 4th
Pembroke Hill 14, St. Pius X 7
Kansas City, MO- Playing at the A.J. Wilson Sports Complex against their rivals from Pius, the Raiders took an early one run lead in the first inning. However, the Warriors struck back, and after the first four innings, Pius held a seemingly commanding 7-2 lead. Facing a major deficit, the Raiders fought back in the fifth inning. With two men on base, pinch hitter David Kipke sparked the Raiders with a one-out homer to deep left field. The three-run home-run was David’s first long-ball as a varsity player, and it came at a big point in the game for the team. After pulling within two, the Raiders continued to strike the reeling Warriors. After big at-bats from Isaac Wurth and Taylor Kiefer, the Raiders batted around in the top of the fifth, and found themselves leading 9-7 by the end of the inning. For the final three innings of the game, starting pitcher Richard Wright was lights out, giving Pius no chance to score. With defensive assistance from center fielder Paul Black, who made four big plays in the last few innings, and catcher Foster Honeck, whose work behind the plate helped Wright pile up the strikeouts, the Raiders kept the Warriors at seven runs for the entire game. The Raiders also added some key insurance in the sixth inning, when shortstop Joe Wieczkowski crushed a two-run homer off the trees behind the left-field fence. The home-run put the Raiders up by a score of 11-7, and when it was all said and done, hits by Richard Wright and David Kipke gave the Raiders their final seven-run advantage. Although the Raiders got down early, the final result, a 14-7 victory over their rivals, was extremely pleasing for the Pembroke Hill team.
Tuesday April 27th
Turner 0, Pembroke Hill 10 (5 Innings)
Kansas City, MO- The Raiders bounced back from a tough loss with a solid all-around victory against the Bears from Turner High School. The Raiders started off well in the bottom of the first when Joe Wieczkowski, Preston Owen, and Richard Wright loaded the bases. Then Richard Moriarty took his turn at the plate. After seeing a few pitches, Moriarty crushed a ball to deep left for a grand slam. Moriarty’s bomb put the Raiders up 4-0, and then Richard Wright went to work on the mound. Wright pitched a flawless five innings of shutout baseball on only 66 pitches. In the field, shortstop Cruz Wiles made quite a few solid defensive plays, and sophomore Isaac Jaramillo had several stops at the hot corner. The Raiders offensive scored five more runs in the second inning. Catcher Luke Butler started the inning off with a double down the left-field line. Following Butler, Wieczkowski walked and designated hitter Preston Owen lined a double to left-center. Later in the inning, Richard Moriarty delivered a big line-drive single, and the Raiders quickly led 9-0. After a few more innings of solid pitching by Richard Wright, the Raiders were able to tack on a single run in the bottom of fifth after a leadoff single by Andy Levin. The Raiders tenth run game the enough for a win over the Turner Bears in five innings.
Monday April 26th
Pembroke Hill 11, Raytown 12
Raytown, MO-The Raiders suffered their toughest loss of the season at Robinson Elementary against the Blue Jays from Raytown High School. After jumping out to an early lead, the Raiders allowed the Jays back into the game. After the first few innings, the Raiders held on to a tight 5-2 lead. However, thanks to a tough pitching performance from Richard Moriarty, the Raiders held the lead for most of the game. Moriarty worked out of two bases-loaded jams with less than two outs, and Charley Doering and Isaac Jaramillo assisted in relief to hold the Jays to only five runs in the first six innings. The Raiders offense relied mostly on the heart of the order, especially Richard Wright. Wright had two home runs and three RBI’s to spark the Raiders. Preston Owen also came up with a big RBI double, and center fielder Paul Black delivered a big RBI for the Raiders. However, the story of the game was the seventh inning. With the rain starting, the Raiders held a comfortable 11-5 five lead after adding some insurance in the top of the seventh. The Raiders recorded the first two outs of the bottom half of the inning in order, but unfortunately, those were the last two outs recorded in the ballgame. The Blue Jays stormed back with a seven run bottom of the seventh and walked off with the victory. For the Raiders this loss was extremely tough to take, but they look to learn from the game and continue their season tougher and more resilient than before.
Tuesday April 20th
Bishop Ward 7, Pembroke Hill 9
Kansas City, MO- In one of the biggest games of the season, the Raiders took on the Cyclones from the always competitive program from Bishop Ward. Leading off in the first inning for the Raiders, Taylor Kiefer managed to reach on a bunt. After the bases were loaded, Kiefer came around to score, giving the Raiders an early 1-0 lead. However, the Cyclones struck back to take a 2-1 one lead off of a home rune by their third baseman. The Raiders came up with a big inning in the fourth however to retake the lead. Both Preston Owen and Richard Wright had two-RBI extra-base hits, and the Raiders took a comfortable 5-2 lead into the second half of the game. With Richard Wright on the mound, the Raiders held the Cyclone offense in check. In the fifth inning, the Raiders received four key insurance runs. Joe Wieczkowski delivered with a big RBI base hit, and Preston Owen launched a clutch three-run homer to deep left to put the Raiders up 9-2. Although the Cyclones struck back in the sixth inning behind another home run by their third baseman, the Raiders held a lead heading into the final inning. Richard Wright pitched a very strong five and two-thirds innings for the Raiders against a strong Cyclone offense, and his pitching was key in allowing the Raiders to build and maintain a lead throughout the game. In the seventh, Shane Davies and Richard Moriarty combined to hold off the Cyclones, and the Raiders were able to come away with a big two run victory against a strong program from Bishop Ward.
Monday April 19th
Pembroke Hill 15, Lincoln Prep 4 (5 innings)
Kansas City, MO- The Raiders faced their district foes from Lincoln Prep at beautiful Satchel Page Memorial Stadium. The Raiders took an early 1-0 lead after Taylor Kiefer led off the game with a bunt single, but the Tigers from Lincoln Prep quickly struck back with a deep two run homer to left field to take the lead. However, the Raiders were not down for long. Early in the game, the Raiders put up a six run inning behind big hits from the heart of their order. After Taylor Kiefer once again bunted his way on base, shortstop Joe Wieczkowski lined a two-run home run over the center field fence. The Raiders then loaded the bases, and Paul Black laced a bases clearing double into right field. After the first three innings, the Raiders held a 9-2 lead. Charley Doering started on the mound for the Raiders and held the Tigers to only four runs in four innings. Although Charley was not as sharp as usual, he provided the team with a gritty outing that allowed the Raiders to come away with a victory. In the top of the fifth, the Raiders pulled away. Scoring six runs behind hits from Preston Owen, Richard Wright, and Paul Black, the Raiders positioned themselves to end the game in five innings. Coming in to pitch the fifth inning, senior Alex McCarthy ended any hope of a Tiger comeback. McCarthy retired the side in the fifth, including a big strikeout. For the Raiders, playing at Satchel Page Memorial Stadium was quite an experience, but to come away with a convincing win made it all the more enjoyable.
Friday April 16th
Lee’s Summit Community Christian 3, Pembroke Hill 11
Kansas City, MO-Hosting the Tigers from Lee’s Summit Community Christian, the Raiders put together seven solid innings of baseball for a convincing victory. In the bottom of the first inning, the Raiders jumped out to an early lead. With Richard Moriarty on the mound for the Raiders, the Tigers were held to very few offensive opportunities, and heading into the second half of the contest, the Raiders held a 5-3 lead. Then the Raiders put together a big three run inning on offensive. After a line-drive base hit by Preston Owen put two men on base, Richard Wright came through with a deep double that gave the Raiders some much needed insurance. Richard Wright also came through for the Raiders on defense. Wright not only made a diving stop on a throw to first which led to an out, but he also made a tough catch against the fence in foul territory. In addition, the Raiders’ defense received a lift early in the game when Joe Wieczkowski faked a throw and tagged out a runner rounding second base. The Raiders offense did not go to rest after their 8-3 lead however. With two men on base, Alex McCarthy steeped in the batters’ box and scorched a ball into left field. The hit was good for two more Raider runs, and the rest was taken care of by starting pitcher Richard Moriarty, who pitched all seven innings for the victorious Raiders.
Thursday April 15th
Pembroke Hill 3, O’Hara 4
Lee’s Summit, MO- Facing the Celtics from O’Hara High School, the Raiders gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, falling behind early to their rivals. The Raiders then came back in the top of the third inning with big at bats from Andy Levin, and Richard Moriarty. Behind starting pitcher Richard Wright and catcher Foster Honeck, the Raiders held the Celtics to only three runs after the first five innings. A big combo-assist from Isaac Wurth and Preston Owen to throw a runner out at home helped to keep the game close. The Raiders tied the game at three when Joe Wieczkowski came up with a big base hit to left-center field. Unfortunately, O’Hara came back with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Raiders were unable to produce any offense in the seventh. For the Raiders, this loss against their rivals was a tough one to take, but they look to continue their improvement as the season progresses.
Tuesday April 13th
Pembroke Hill 8, Grain Valley 10
Grain Valley, MO- Facing their familiar foes from Grain Valley, the Raiders were forced once again to battle their way back into a baseball game. After falling behind by three runs early in the contest, the Raiders were able to take a 5-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Raiders’ offense was sparked by key hits from Isaac Wurth and Taylor Kiefer. The Eagles from Grain Valley however came back strong in the bottom of the fourth. Although starting pitcher Richard Moriarty gave the Raiders a chance, the Raiders defense could not make the big plays in a four run bottom of the fourth. Heading into the second half of the contest, the Eagles led by a score of 7-5. The Eagles added to their lead in by scoring three more runs, but reliever Shane Davies pitched a solid sixth inning to keep the game within reach at 10-6. In the top of the seventh, the Raiders once again mounted a comeback. The Raiders were in business when Paul Black and Preston Owen reached base. Cruz Wiles then stepped in the batters’ box with one out, and delivered a big two run extra base hit. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the rally ended there, and they fell two runs short in the comeback bid.
Monday April 12th
Lee’s Summit West 6, Pembroke Hill 7 (8 innings)
Kansas City, MO- For the first time in quite a while, the Raiders were able to jump out to a lead on an opponent. Facing a very solid program from Lee’s Summit West, the Raiders were able to score 3 runs in the third inning after receiving an offensive spark from designated hitter Andy Levin. Starting pitcher Charlie Doering gave the Raiders an outstanding effort, keeping the team ahead 3-2 after his five innings of work. Doering kept the Titan hitters off balance all day, and he made the most of his first varsity start. However, Lee’s Summit West was not going to give up easily. The Titans rallied to take the lead in the sixth, and heading to the bottom of the seventh, they led the Raiders 5-3. After starting the bottom of the seventh with an out, the Raiders loaded the bases with Evan Summers, Taylor Kiefer, and Joe Wieczkowski. Then Preston Owen stepped up to the plate, and the Raiders’ slugger delivered a clutch two run double to tie the game. With Richard Moriarty at the plate, the Raiders tried a gutsy steal of home, but unfortunately Joe Wieczkowski was called out at home. Although the Raiders believed the run should have scored because of a balk, the umpires did not agree, and the game went into extras. With the momentum seemingly on their side, the Titans struck back with a run in the top of the eight, taking a 6-5 lead. The Raiders would not give up though. With two men on base, Cruz Wiles stepped up to the plate and laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. The Titans pitcher made a poor throw though, and one run scored to tie the game, but the trail runner was thrown out at the plate. However, Wiles hustled over to third base. With the winning run merely 90 feet away, Andy Levin, the man who got the Raiders offense started at the beginning of the game, came up to bat. After fighting off a few tough pitches, Levin delivered the game-winning infield hit for the Raiders. Against a tough opponent, the Raiders played very solid offensive and defensive ball, and they were rewarded with a classic walk-off victory in extra innings.
Saturday April 10
Bolivar 8, Pembroke Hill 7 (10 Innings)
Clinton, MO-In what is sure to be one of the most entertaining games of the Raiders season, Pembroke Hill fell just one run short of Bolivar in a ten inning marathon. Although the Raiders fell behind early, starting pitcher Richard Wright kept the team close with five solid innings of four run ball, and eventually the Raiders were able to bring the game to a 4-4 tie. Coming on in the fifth inning was senior pitcher Alex McCarthy. McCarthy pitched two shutout innings, allowing the Raiders to send the game into extra innings. Bolivar opened up the eighth inning with a run, but Raider pitcher Paul Black was able to get out of a jam, giving the Raiders a chance. In the bottom of the eighth, it seemed as if the Raiders would unfortunately fail to tie up the game, but thanks to clutch offense from the heart of the lineup, the Raiders were able to scrap their way to tie the game. After a quiet ninth inning, Bolivar jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the tenth inning, but the damage was limited by solid defense from left fielder Richard Moriarty and first baseman Richard Wright. Although they were down, the Raiders were not out coming into the bottom of the tenth. After a leadoff hit by Joe Wieczkowski, Preston Owen stepped up to the plate. After taking a few pitches, Preston Owen launched one over the left field fence for a two-run home rune, much to the pleasure of the friendly Pembroke Hill crowd. However, the Raiders were still down by one run. After Paul Black, Taylor Kiefer, and Isaac Jaramillo loaded the bases with two outs, Isaac Wurth stepped up to the plate. With the game on the line, Wurth had a great at bat. After taking a few pitches, Wurth struck a ball to left field, which looked as if it would drop in for a game winning base hit. Unfortunately, the ball landed just inches to the outside of the foul line, and Bolivar was able to squeeze itself out of the bottom of the tenth inning with a one run victory. For the Raiders, this was a very tough loss, but they leave the Clinton Tournament having the experience of playing three good games, especially this ten-inning marathon against Bolivar.
Saturday April 10
El Dorado Springs 3, Pembroke Hill 10
Clinton, MO-Beginning the second day of play at the Clinton Tournament, the Raiders took on El Dorado Springs High School for the first time in school history. The Raiders fell behind by two runs early, but after that, it was all Pembroke Hill. Sophomore Shane Davies made his first varsity pitching appearance as a starter, and pitched four solid innings of two run baseball. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Raiders’ offense finally came alive when, behind hits from Joe Wieczkowski and Richard Wright and a steal of home by Paul Black, the team scored three runs to take the lead. Coming on to pitch in the fifth inning, junior Charlie Doering closed out the game giving up only one run over the final three innings. In addition, the Raiders added a four run tally in the sixth inning to seal the contest. This rally was sparked by a key hit from Joe Wieczkowski and solid bunts by Paul Black and Evan Summers. In addition, Taylor Kiefer laid down a perfect drag bunt to force pressure on the El Dorado Springs defense. Overall, the win was a big one for the Raiders, and it allowed them to even their Clinton Tournament record at one win and one loss heading in to the final contest.
Friday April 9
Clinton 13, Pembroke Hill 3
Clinton, MO-In their opening game of the Clinton Invitational Tournament, the Raiders took on the host club from Clinton High School. The Raiders got off to a slow start, giving up an early two run lead, but they soon shook off their early jitters. Down 2-0 in the third, the Raiders fought back to take a 3-2 lead. Starting pitcher Richard Moriarty helped himself out by contributing to the rally with a big hit. In addition to his offense, Moriarty helped the Raiders with a gritty start, featuring a tough performance in the first inning where he held Clinton to only 2 runs after falling behind and loading the bases with nobody out. In addition, center fielder Paul Black retired three men in one inning on outstanding defensive plays to help maintain the Raiders hard-earned lead. After the Raiders came back to take the lead however, the Clinton ball club struck a major blow. Although the Raiders seemed to be in control, Clinton scored ten runs in the fifth inning, and tacked one on in the sixth inning to end the ball game. Although the end result was tough to take, the Raiders fought hard against a good Clinton team, and they look forward to the rest of their trip to Clinton, Missouri.
Monday April 5
Pembroke Hill 4, Savannah 6
Savannah, MO- The Raiders fell short in their search of their second win of the season against the Savages from Savannah. Behind the starting pitching of Richard Moriarty, who pitched a solid four innings, the Raiders were able to jump out to an early three run lead. The Raiders first runs came in the second inning, after a base hit from center fielder Paul Black sparked the Raiders rally. Another key in Pembroke’s big inning was an obstruction call on the shortstop while Richard Wright was rounding second. Although Richard was originally called out, Coach Diskin’s knowledge of the rulebook convinced the umpires to reverse their decision, and make the correct call. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the Savages mounted their own comeback in the middle innings, striking for two home runs to take the lead. However, the Raiders defense kept the game close with a few solid plays by second baseman Cruz Wiles and a diving stop by shortstop Joe Wieczkowski. Although down five to three heading into the sixth inning, the Raiders brought the game within one with a run of their own. After Preston Owen singled and Richard Wright found his way on to put men on second and third with one out, Evan Summers came up to the plate and laid down a suicide squeeze bunt. Preston Owen scored on the bunt, and Richard Wright, running from second to home, came up just a few inches short of tying the game at five. The next half-inning however, Savannah tacked on an insurance run, and in the end, their six runs were enough to hold of the Raiders.
Monday March 30th
Raytown South 3, Pembroke Hill 5
Kansas City, MO- In the opening home game of the season, the Raiders came away with their first victory, edging out the Cardinals of Raytown South by two runs. The Raiders opened the game up with a lead, scoring three times in the bottom of the second after a leadoff double by Preston Owen. Another key moment in this inning was a perfectly executed bunt by Cruz Wiles, which, after an error, led to two runs and brought Cruz to third base. Although the visitors managed to get two runs off of starter Richard Wright to make the game tight, Wright and the Raider defense, keyed by a heads-up cutoff by shortstop Joe Wieczkowski and solid defense at the hot-corner by Taylor Kiefer, never allowed the Cardinals to tie the game. In the fifth inning, the Raiders scored two insurance runs, one of which came after left fielder David Kipke stole home with the bases loaded. Although the Cardinals managed to score one more run in the top of the seventh, right fielder Isaac Wurth ended the game with a put-out in right field, finishing off Richard Wright’s complete game victory. For the Raiders, their overall record now moves to 1-2, and the team looks to continue their winning ways in the days and weeks ahead.
Wednesday March 24th
Sapulpa 7, Pembroke Hill 1
Sapulpa, OK- Although the Raiders planned to open their season against Sapulpa on Monday March 22, an unexpected Oklahoma snow storm delayed the game until Wednesday. Despite the weather, the Raiders made their way to Sapulpa to face the Chieftains for the first time in school history. Starting this new rivalry for the Raiders was pitcher Richard Moriarty, who along with reliever Paul Black, held Sapulpa to only three runs in five innings. This strong pitching performance gave the Raiders a chance, but unfortunately, the offense was unable to capitalize. After solid singles from Preston Owen and Richard Wright in the top of the 6th, the Raiders had a chance to pull even with Sapulpa, but the Chieftains were able to get themselves out of a major jam. In the next half inning, Sapulpa pulled away with four runs, extending their lead to 7-1, which proved to be the final result. Although the Raiders come away from their two-game Oklahoma road trip with two tough losses, they look forward to facing some local competition with the experience gained against two strong teams from the Sooner State.
Tuesday March 23rd
Bartlesville 7, Pembroke Hill 2
Bartlesville, OK- The 2010 Raiders opened the season at Doenges Field in downtown Bartlesville against a very strong Bruins club. After falling behind 3-0 early, the Raiders played very good baseball. Behind the pitching of starter Richard Wright and relievers Alex McCarthy and Taylor Kiefer, the Raiders held the high-powered Bruins offense to only 4 runs in the final five innings. The strong pitching can also be credited to first-time Varsity catcher Luke Butler, who called a stellar game for the Raiders. Assisting the strong pitching, the Raiders’ defense turned several double-plays thanks to the efforts of third baseman Richard Moriarty and second baseman Cruz Wiles. The Raiders offense got going when center fielder Paul Black provided the Raiders with their first hit of the season, a bullet down the left field line, and designated hitter Preston Owen provided a spark for the offense with a spectacular dive into first base for an infield single. Richard Wright scored two runs for the Raiders. Although those two runs were not enough for the Raiders in their opening game of the season against the Bruins, the team played well against a solid opponent, and they look to improve as the season continues.
2009 Varsity Game Summaries
Harrisonville 15 Pembroke Hill 1 (District Championship Game)
Pembroke Hill 8 O’Hara 6 (Second Round of Districts
Pembroke Hill 11 Center 4 (First Round of Districts)
Bishop Ward 10 Pembroke Hill 6:
Pembroke Hill 5 Savannah 1: Richard Wright had another dominating performance against Savannah. This was a huge game for the Raiders considering Savannah beat the Raiders last year 11-5. Savannah also beat Lawrence Free State the game before. We knew this was going to be a test and many players stepped up for the Raiders. Cameron Wilkerson had a great bunt which advanced the runners and both runners later scored. The infield was spotless and the outfield made several great plays including the game ending catch by Paul Black. This win took the Raider’s winning streak to eight games.
Pembroke Hill 11 Grandview 1: Richard Moriarty had another great outing on the mound for the Raiders. This was Richard’s first varsity start and he only allowed one run. The Raider’s bats were hot too. Nick Leyh hit the ball to all fields and had a great game behind the dish. Jack Dudenhoeffer had a great double play when he made a diving catch and then threw the runner out at first. Geoff Butler did a great job closing the game without giving up a run. This extended the Raiders winning streak to seven games.
Pembroke Hill 6 St. Joseph LeBlond 2: Jack Dudenhoeffer was on the mound for the Raiders against LeBlond. LeBlond took an early 2-0 lead until the third inning. In the third Richard Wright drew a walk and Jack Dudenhoeffer then hit a two run homerun tying the game at 2-2. That was Jack’s fourth homerun of the year. The Raiders then took control of the game scoring four more runs. Cruz Wiles made an excellent play to end the game at shortstop. This game was exciting and prepared the Raiders to face Grandview and Savannah on Saturday.
Pembroke Hill 6 St. Pius X 0: Pius is always an exciting game for the Raiders and everyone on the team was ready for a tough game. The Raiders played great not committing an error and not giving up a run. Richard Wright pitched excellent and every Raider had a great day at the plate. Jack Dudenhoeffer drove in the first run with a two out double. The Raiders never looked back scoring 6 and keeping the shutout. This was the second win in a row against Pius.
Warrensburg 10 Pembroke Hill 7: Jack Dudenhoefer was the Raiders startin g pitcher. Warrensburg came out hot scoring five runs in the first three innings. The Raiders came back in the 5th inning tying the game 7-7. The Raiders were unable to score any more runs after the 5th. Warrensburg scored three runs in the 7th, winning the game 10-7.
Pembroke Hill 14 Lincoln Prep 0: The Raiders kicked off the heart of their season (and their first home game) with a dominating performance, defeating the Lincoln Prep Tigers 14-0. Richard Wright had an incredible game on the mound, throwing a one hitter. Joe Wieczkowski scored the first run on a wild pitch in the first inning followed later by a two run home run by Jack Dudenhoeffer. The Raiders never looked back putting up 14 with hits from almost the entire line up, spreading the Tigers in five innings.
O’Hara 4 Pembroke Hill 3: Jack Dudenhoefer was the Raiders starting pitcher for the day. The Raiders had just come off a hard loss to Raytown, and were ready to grind it out with a well coached, district rival O’Hara team. The game was a battle from the start. Heading into the 7th inning the raiders were down 4-3. O’Hara scored one more run; however the raiders put up two runs to tie up the game. The raiders battled it out for two more innings before losing in the 9th 4-3.
Raytown South 10 Pembroke Hill 5: Junior Richard Wright was the starting pitcher for this evening’s game. Raytown South ended up being one of those games that just got away fro Pembroke. Sophomore Paul Black stepped up and batted in the two spot, replacing senior Caleb Wurth who had suffered a hamstring injury. The Raiders were consistent, scoring one run in each of the following innings: second, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh. Raytown South, however, had a big inning in the fifth, scoring four runs. The Raiders ended up losing 10-5.
Pembroke Hill 16 Archie 3: The Raiders came to play for the tournament championship game against Archie, behind senior Geoff Butlers great outing. Geoff gave up only two hits and one run in five innings striking out six. The raider bats were again the story of the game putting up another 16 runs. The Raiders took the championship game and the tournament by the score of 16-3.
Pembroke Hill 16 Bolivar 5: After their great win the day before, The Raiders took on Bolivar. Jack Dudenhoefer took the mound and pitched a quality complete game giving up only five runs. Again the Raiders bats came alive scoring a tournament high 16 runs. The Raiders dominated and won the game 16-5 advancing to the tournament championship.
Pembroke Hill 8 Clinton 2: The Raiders came into the Clinton Tournament looking to ride their wave of confidence from the Oklahoma trip. The Raiders came up against number 10 state ranked Clinton. Junior Richard Wright pitched a complete game gem, giving up only two hits and two runs. The Raiders bats came alive scoring 8 runs in a great 8-2 victory.
Bartlesville 14 Pembroke Hill 1: The final game in the tournament was a tough one to swallow. The Raiders started out good, but lost it in the second inning. Geoff Butler made a great play on the mound and tried to turn a double play with Jack Dudenhoeffer and Richard Wright. The ump called both men safe and the inning kept going. Cameron Wilkerson drove in the lone run. The Raiders still felt good leaving Oklahoma with a 2-1 record, a first for PHS baseball.
Pembroke Hill 17 Holland Hall 5: The Raiders didn’t let up in their second game of the night. The hits kept coming from every spot in the order. Joe Wieczkowski led the game off with a hit and Caleb Wurth drove him in. Sophomore Cruz Wiles also got his first varsity hit. The Raiders also hit back to back to back triples in the fourth inning. Jack Dudenhoeffer did a good job on the mound only giving up three earned runs in four innings pitched. Caleb Wurth closed the game in the fifth, giving up one run.
Pembroke Hill 15 Lincoln Christian 2: Raider baseball started the season off strong with a great win over Lincoln Christian. The Raiders got lucky in the first inning when Jack Dudenhoeffer popped out, but the call was reversed because Coach Diskin saw that the player was in foul territory. The next pitch Jack drove in two runs with a double. Geoff Butler then drove Jack in with a sharp single to left field. The Raiders never let up; Richard Wright pitched an excellent game only giving up two runs.
2008 Varsity Game Summaries
Overall Record: 11-8
Tuesday, May 13
Pleasant Hill 3, Pembroke Hill 2
Kansas City, MO – Despite a late rally in the top of the seventh, the Raiders fell just short in a heart breaking defeat. Jack Dudenhoffer came out throwing bullets on the mound, striking out two of three batters in a three-up, three-down first inning. Dude finished the game giving up just two runs in six solid innings of work on the bump. Despite leaving several runners on base early, the Raiders managed to manufacture a run in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead. However, Pleasant Hill pulled ahead when they rallied and scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. As the Raiders were still trailing by a run in the top of the seventh, Robert Wrightstarted the rally, reaching base on an error. The Raiders soon had the bases loaded with just one out after Caleb Wurth and Joe Wieczkowski were able to get on base. The next batter,Peter Ingles, was hit by a pitch and the tying run came in to score. However, one run was all the Raiders could muster out of the inning, and the game remained tied going into the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, a runner on second, and a full count, the Roosters were able to get a base hit to left field, scoring the run and ending not only the game, but the season for the Raiders. The Raiders fought hard and refused to quit, but came up just short in a gut wrenching defeat.
Monday, May 12
Pembroke Hill 5, Lincoln Prep 4
Kansas City, MO – The Raiders pulled out a come from behind victory against the Lincoln Prep Blue Tigers, rallying to score four runs in their final two at bats. Starting pitcher Geoff Butlerhad a solid outing, giving up four unearned runs in six innings of work on the mound. Finding themselves in an early 2-0 hole, the Raiders were able to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first, as senior Nick Butler’s RBI base hit brought Joe Wieczkowski around to score. The Raider offense threatened a few more times throughout the game, but was held scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Trailing 4-1, the Raiders put themselves back in the game with a three run rally. Caleb Wurth started the inning off with a line drive base hit to left field. Then, two consecutive hit by pitches loaded the bases. All three runs eventually came around to score, asEdward Merriman’s clutch base hit with two outs scored the third run, tying the game at four runs apiece. Behind Geoff Butler’s pitching and great defense, especially by junior third baseman Jack Dudenhoffer, the Raiders held Lincoln’s offense scoreless in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the inning, the Raiders took the lead as sophomore Richard Wrightscored on a sacrifice fly by Peter Ingles. With a one run lead going into the seventh, submariner Peter Ingles came in relief and slammed the door on the Tiger offense, and for the second time this season, the Raiders defeated Lincoln Prep in dramatic fashion.
Monday, May 5
Pembroke Hill 1, Raytown South 0
Kansas City, MO – Behind a dominant pitching performance by Jack Dudenhoffer, the Raiders pulled out the win in the regular season finale. Dudenhoffer allowed no runs and no hits on his way to a complete game victory. In the top of the first inning with a runner on first, Paul Koppel made a phenomenal catch on a line drive to center field and doubled up the runner at first base. The Raiders scored their only run in the bottom of the second inning. Cameron Wilkerson started the rally with a line drive base hit to right field and hustled to second when the ball was bobbled by the right fielder. Later in the inning, the run was scored on a beautiful base hit bunt by Brian Tierney. The Raiders found themselves in a few different jams throughout the game, but managed to work their way out of them with no harm done. In the top of the seventh inning, Raytown South was threatening with runners on second and third, but Jack Dudenhoffer ended the game when he blew a fastball past the final batter to get the strikeout. The Raiders triumphed in a 1-0 victory and now look forward to a rematch against Lincoln Prep in the first round of districts on Monday.
Saturday, May 3
Savannah 11, Pembroke Hill 6
Savannah, MO – The Raiders dropped a second straight game with a loss to the Savannah Savages. For the second game in a row, the Raiders took the lead in the first inning. Joe Wieczkowski led off the game with a line drive base hit up the middle and came around to score later in the inning. Junior pitcher Geoff Butler had a solid start to the game, holding the Savages scoreless for the first two innings. Although the Raiders added another run in the top of the third, Savannah scored three in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. The Savannah lead continued to grow, and the Raiders found themselves down 8-3 after five innings of play. The Raider offense hit the ball well at times, but failed on several occasions to cash in with runners in scoring position. Peter Ingles had a solid day at the plate, going 3-3 with two doubles. However, the Raiders faced a large deficit going into the seventh inning. Refusing to quit, the Raiders scraped together a late rally, as Edward Merriman picked up a pair of RBIs with a base hit to right center. Afterwards, the Raiders could not manage to get any more runs across, and the game ended as the Raiders were defeated for the second game in a row.
Thursday, May 1
St. Joseph Leblond 12, Pembroke Hill 6
St. Joseph, MO – Shaky defense was costly for the Raiders in a 12-6 defeat. The Raiders jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, as Joe Wieczkowski scored on a base hit byJack Dudenhoffer. Starting pitcher Caleb Wurth came out throwing strikes early, and kept the Eagles off the board for the first two innings. However, the Raiders began to fall apart in the third inning, where a series of errors contributed to a seven run rally for Leblond. Leaving several runners on base, the Raiders fell behind 12-4 going into the seventh inning. However, the Raiders refused to quit, and put together a late inning rally. With a runner on base in the top of the seventh, senior Peter Ingles hit a homerun to straightaway center field, cutting the deficit to six runs. With runners on first and second with one out, however, the game was called due to lightning, and the Raiders fell in a tough one.
Tuesday, April 29
Pembroke Hill 6, St. Pius X 1
Kansas City, MO – The Raiders jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 6-1 win over rival St. Pius X. Setting the tone early, the Raider offense put three runs on the board in the first inning. Joe Wieczkowski and Nick Butler both walked and scored on an RBI single by Jack Dudenhoffer, who also hit a home run later in the game. Not only was Dude solid at the plate, but he only allowed one run and struck out three batters in seven innings of work on the mound. In addition, the Raiders played solid defense, committing very few errors and shutting down the Warriors whenever they threatened to score. After picking up the win, the Raiders look forward to four important games in five days starting Thursday against St. Joseph LeBlond.
Saturday, April 26
Pembroke Hill 8, Lawson 3
Smithville, MO – With a late offensive surge, the Raiders picked up a big win against the Lawson Cardinals. Jumping out to an early lead in the first, the table was set for pitcher Caleb Wurth,who provided the Raiders with another solid performance on the mound. However, the Raiders found themselves in a 3-1 hole going into the fifth inning, where the offense went to work. With a runner on base, Nick Butler tied the game with a two run shot over the center field fence. In a pressure relief performance, Peter Ingles shut down the Cardinal offense, throwing four scoreless innings on the mound. Then in the top of the seventh, the Raider offense exploded, as another Nick Butler bomb over the left field wall put the Raiders ahead. Jack Dudenhofferprovided an insurance run with a shot of his own over the left field wall, and the Raiders prevailed in a hard fought win.
Saturday, April 26
Pembroke Hill 10, Washington 0 (6 innings)
Smithville, MO – The Raiders cruised to victory in a ten run triumph against the Washington Wildcats. The Raiders jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, as leadoff batter Joe Wieczkowski got on base and scored in the first inning. Junior pitchers Jack Dudenhofferand Geoff Butler combined for seven scoreless innings on the mound. In addition to solid pitching, the Raiders played flawless defense. Edward Merriman picked the Raiders up in the fifth, throwing out a runner on a steal to end a Washington rally. Home runs by Nick Butlerand Caleb Wurth propelled the Raiders to a ten run victory, as the game ended in the sixth inning due to the ten run mercy rule.
Monday, April 21
Pleasant Hill 6, Pembroke Hill 3
Kansas City, MO – The Raiders’ five game winning streak snapped in a tough loss to Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill jumped out to an early lead, but starting pitcher Caleb Wurth was able to keep the game close. Trailing for the majority of the game, the Raiders saw themselves in a 4-0 hole going into the bottom of the sixth inning. RBI base hits by Joe Wieczkowski andEdward Merriman pulled the Raiders within a run going into the seventh inning. However, Pleasant Hill put two runs on the board in the inning to take a 6-3 lead. The Raiders were threatening in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on base, but were unable to cash in, coming up just short in a hard fought game.
Saturday, April 19
Pembroke Hill 14, West Platte 2 (5 innings)
Weston, MO – The offense got back on track in game two of the double header, where the Raiders slugged their way to victory. With the game tied at two, the Raiders broke the game open in the bottom of the third. After Jack Dudenhoffer’s base hit drove in the go ahead run, the Raiders continued to score and never looked back. The highlight of the game was a three-run bomb over the left field fence by Edward Merriman. Returning to the mound for the first time since injuring his hand, Geoff Butler, in an impressive showing, closed out the game in the top of the fifth to seal the victory for the Raiders.
Saturday, April 19
Pembroke Hill 4, Lincoln Prep 3
Weston, MO – Despite starting out flat, the Raiders grinded it out and got the victory in dramatic fashion. The Pembroke offense drew the first blood in the top of the first inning, as one run was scored on back-to-back doubles by Nick Butler and Jack Dudenhoffer. After the first inning, however, the Raiders were held to just one run until the top of the seventh inning. Lincoln broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, rallying for a pair of runs to take the lead 3-2. With two outs and the bases empty in the seventh, Caleb Wurth looped a double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a wild throw by the left fielder. The very next batter, pinch hitter Edward Merriman, knocked the run in after reaching base on an error by the third baseman. The Raiders continued to rally and took a 4-3 lead. Submarine pitcherPeter Ingles came in and shut the door on the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Raiders escaped with the win.
Tuesday, April 15
Pembroke Hill 11, Shawnee Mission North 1 (5 innings)
Kansas City, MO – The Raiders coasted to a ten run victory in five innings of play. Caleb Wurth, in another solid outing on the mound, kept the Indian hitters off balance on his way to a complete game victory. The Raider offense, for the second game in a row, continued to crush the ball. Joe Wieczkowski led the offensive attack with a pair of base hits and runs scored. The game ended in the fifth on a RBI double over the left fielder’s head by Nick Butler to enforce the ten run mercy rule.
Monday, April 14
Pembroke Hill 13, Turner 4
Kansas City, MO – After a 17-0 loss in their latest meeting with Turner a year ago, the Raiders proved a point with a 13-4 thumping of the Bears. Turner jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Raider offense responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Despite a slow start on the mound, Jack Dudenhoffer got in a groove and shut down the Turner offense for much of the game. With the score tied at four in the top of the fifth inning, Turner was threatening with the bases loaded and two outs. However, relief pitcherPeter Ingles came in and got a key strikeout to end the inning. From this point forward, the Raiders pulled ahead as the offense came to life. From top to bottom, the entire lineup pounded the ball. Seniors Paul Koppel and Brian Tierney both hit shots to the left field wall, and Junior Cameron Wilkerson had a solid day at the plate as well.
Saturday, April 5
Pembroke Hill 7, Bolivar 2
Clinton, MO – The Raiders bounced back to take game two of the double header. The Raiders once again got a stellar complete game performance on the mound from Junior Jack Dudenhoffer, who propelled the Raiders to victory, striking out nine and giving up just three hits. The Raider offense clicked from the start, as they jumped out in front by three early and never looked back. Sophomore Joe Wieczkowski was the spark plug as he led off the first two innings with hits and came around to score both times. Junior Caleb Wurth also had a spectacular game at the plate, going two for three with two doubles. Protecting the lead with solid, errorless defense, the Raiders coasted to victory and qualified to play Archie in the third place game of the Clinton/Lakeland tournament.
Saturday, April 5
Clinton 6, Pembroke Hill 5
Clinton, MO – The Raiders let one slip away in an extra inning battle against Clinton. Starting pitcher Caleb Wurth once again gave the Raiders a solid performance on the mound, giving up just one earned run in four and two thirds innings of work. Wurth was able to dig his way out of two bases loaded jams in order to keep the Cardinal offense off the scoreboard for the first four innings of play. The Raider offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth, where senior Peter Ingles started a rally with a line drive base hit to right field. Ingles was driven in on a RBI triple in the right center gap by Nick Butler, who also scored in the inning. Although the Raiders had a late lead, shaky defense in the top of the sixth inning cost them four runs and the lead, as the Raiders fell behind 5-2. However, the Raider offense was relentless, as they put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth. With runners in scoring position, Junior Jack Dudenhoffer drove in two runs with a bomb off the right center field wall. The very next batter, Edward Merriman, knocked Dude in to tie the game at five runs apiece. The game went into extra innings after there was no scoring in the seventh. Clinton had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the eighth, but only one run would come across as Brian Tierney’sunassisted double play ended the inning and kept the Raiders in the game. However, the Raider bats went quietly in the bottom of the eighth and the team fell just short of getting the win.
Tuesday, April 1
Pembroke Hill 6, Grain Valley 2
Grain Valley, MO – The Raiders defeated the Grain Valley Eagles for the first time in Jeff Diskin’s tenure as head coach. The Raider offense got in an early groove as the Raiders jumped out in front early and did not look back. Jack Dudenhoffer provided a spark in the top of the second inning and put the Raiders on the board with a steal of home. Dude also pitched a complete game on the mound and went three for four at the plate. Along with this phenomenal pitching performance came great plays in the field. Paul Koppel and Joe Wieczkowski made several outstanding catches in the outfield, including a diving catch by Koppel in the bottom of the seventh inning. With a great win and a boost of confidence under their belt, the Raiders look to make some noise in the upcoming Lakeland/Clinton tournament.
Tuesday, March 25
Bartlesville 8, Pembroke Hill 6
Bartlesville, OK – In a hard fought, back and forth battle, the Raiders suffered a tough loss to a very solid Bartlesville Bruin team. In his first varsity outing, Junior Caleb Wurth did an excellent job keeping the Bruin hitters off balance. The Raider offense came to life in the top of the second, providing Wurth with a two run cushion. However, the Bruins responded with a four-run rally in the bottom of the second, taking a two run lead of their own going into the third. The Raiders, with another offensive surge, jumped right back into the game with an RBI double to the right center gap by Nick Butler. The Bruins answered with another late-inning rally, taking an 8-6 lead going into the top of the seventh, where the Raider bats were shut down in a 1-2-3 inning to end the game.
Monday, March 24
Holland Hall 14, Pembroke Hill 13
Tulsa, OK – The Raiders dropped game two of the double header, falling short of the Holland Hall Dutch in what proved to be a slugfest. The Raiders fell in an early eight run hole, as submarine pitcher Peter Ingles struggled on the mound. However, the Raider bats came to life and erased the deficit with an eight run rally, tying the game in the fourth inning. Junior Jack Dudenhoffer, in his first varsity pitching appearance, came in relief and quieted the Holland Hall bats, keeping the Raiders in the game. The Raiders took the lead going into the sixth inning, but the Dutch offense proved to be too much for the Raiders as game ended with a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Monday, March 24
Lincoln Christian 12, Pembroke Hill 2 (5 innings)
Tulsa, OK – The Raiders opened the season in Oklahoma with a 12-2 loss to the Lincoln Christian Bulldogs. Although the Raiders had several opportunities to put runs on the scoreboard early in the game, runners were left stranded on base and the Raiders failed to cash in. The Bulldogs took an early lead and never looked back as the Raider pitching could not find a way to stop the bleeding of the Bulldog rally. As a result, the Raiders took a loss by way of the ten run mercy rule after the fifth inning.
2007 Varsity Game Summaries
Overall Record: 10-10
Pembroke Hill 8, Holland Hall 4
Tulsa, OK, March 26 – After a much anticipated start to the 2007 season, the Raiders traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma where they took on the Holland Hall Dutch. The Raiders jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first after back-to-back hits by seniors Brian Herman and Drew Patton. Matt Ungashick took the mound and had a solid five inning performance, relieved by the trusty submariner, Peter Ingles. Peter was able to come in and halt what looked to be a late Dutch comeback. Jack Dudenhoeffer sealed the game with his base-clearing triple. The defense of the Raiders proved to be solid, especially in centerfield where Paul Koppel made several outstanding catches. With one win under their belt, the Raiders hope to carry the momentum into the game against Lincoln Christian.
Lincoln Christian 8, Pembroke Hill 7
Tulsa, OK, March 26 – With a solid victory over Holland Hall, the Raiders looked to their next Oklahoma opponent, the defending state champions for the last four seasons: the Lincoln Christian Bulldogs. The Raiders again jumped out to a quick start, scoring seven in four innings. However, the Raider pitching could not slow the Bulldog offense, as they rallied late in the game to an 8-7 win. Defensively, the Raiders were once again solid with another outstanding catch by center fielder Paul Koppel. However, mental mistakes and timely hitting by the opponent led to this Raider loss. With this frustrating loss, the Raiders hope to redeem themselves with a win at Bartlesville.
Bartlesville 15, Pembroke Hill 5
Bartlesville, OK, March 27 – After a disappointing loss to Lincoln Christian, the Raiders hoped for a better performance at Bartlesville. For the third game in a row, the Raider offense got going early with a 2-0 lead. However, Bartlesville would not be kept down for long as they put up five runs in their half of the first. The Bruins offense did not let up, as they scored runs in each consecutive inning. The Raiders simply could not match up to the dominant play of the Bartlesville Bruin team today, as reflected by the score. Overall, the Raiders feel as though they have learned a great deal about themselves as a team and now know what they must work to have a successful season. They will look ahead to the first Pembroke Hill hosted tournament in a very long time, where they will have three games on Saturday.
Pembroke Hill 5, Savannah 2
KCMO 3&2, April 2 – After learning a great deal about their team from their trip in Oklahoma, the Raiders were anxious to begin play back in their home stadium. Because the Pembroke Hill Tournament was rained out over the weekend, the Raiders opened their home season against Savannah on Monday. Junior Brian Tierney took the mound and had a dominating performance, going five innings and allowing one run on very few hits. The Raider offense was not spectacular, but it got the job done putting up five runs. Senior Drew Patton continued in his relief role as he took the mound for the final two innings, securing the Raider victory. With this solid win over a quality opponent, the Raiders hope to ride this momentum to victory against Grain Valley on Tuesday.
Turner 17, Pembroke Hill 0
Kansas City, KS, April 16 – After a two week stretch with no games due to the wet weather, the Raiders faced off against the Golden Bears of Turner. A lack of defensive effort and poor performances on the mound from the Raiders, along with solid hitting from Turner led to an embarrassing loss for the program. The Raiders will look ahead to Lathrop tomorrow, where they hope to get back to a “Blue Collar” style of baseball.
Pembroke Hill 15, Lathrop 3
Lathrop, MO, April 17 – After an embarrassing loss to Turner, the Raiders turned their game around against the Lathrop Mules. The Raider offense turned up the heat, hitting three home runs, highlighted by a grand slam from Peter Ingles. On the mound, Brian Tierney dominated, pitching a solid four innings hardly allowing a hit. He then gave way to Peter Ingles, who sealed the game as a spread in the fifth. After this win, the Raiders hope to carry the momentum into their two game home stand, starting with West Platte on Thursday.
Pembroke Hill 20, West Platte 2
Kansas City, MO, April 20 – In the first make up game from the Pembroke Hill Tournament that was rained out, the Raiders brought their offensive “A” game. They jumped ahead, scoring fourteen runs in the first two innings. On the mound, Drew Patton made his first varsity start, allowing only one run in three innings. Defensively, the Raiders came up with big plays in the field when they needed it, including a pick-off from Patton, a throw-out at second from Brentton Duck, and a perfect relay throw home from Brian Tierney in the outfield. The Raiders look ahead to the prime time game tomorrow against Lincoln Prep for the second make-up game from the Pembroke Hill Tournament.
Pembroke Hill 10, Lincoln Prep 0
KCMO 3&2, April 20 – After an impressive offensive showing against West Platte Thursday, the Raiders once again brought the bats to the stadium. On the mound, Brian Herman brought his “A” game, throwing a complete game shutout with six strikeouts. Offensively, Peter Ingles led the charge with two triples. The performance was solid offensively and defensively and the Raiders hope to carry the momentum into the Lakeland/Clinton Tournament on Saturday.
Pembroke Hill 13, Lakeland 2
Deepwater, MO, April 21 – After being rained out on the scheduled weekend, the Clinton/Lakeland tournament was to be made up in one day on Saturday. In the first of two games, the Raiders faced off against the Lakeland Vikings. The Raider offense got a quick start, scoring four runs in the first. Highlighting the offensive performance was Brentton Duck’s three run homerun in the first inning. Starter Brian Tierney went five innings, with relief from Jack Dudenhoeffer, who had an impressive varsity debut on the mound. After this solid performance, the Raiders look ahead to a good opponent in Clinton.
Clinton 10, Pembroke Hill 0
Clinton, MO, April 21 – In a disappointing performance, the Raiders seemed to let this game slip away. The Raiders simply could not find answers for the Clinton offense, and struggled trying to get anything going against a solid pitcher. Matt Ungashick took the mound and seemed to find his rhythm, but it was a bit too late as the Raiders could not get anything going at the plate. They look ahead to rebound from this loss in a key game against a district opponent on Monday.
Pleasant Hill 7, Pembroke Hill 4
Pleasant Hill, MO, April 23- After a disappointing loss on Saturday, the Raiders came back on Monday looking to get a quality win over a district opponent. The Raiders got out in front early but were unable to muster enough offense to match the Roosters of Pleasant Hill. Solid defense and a solid relief effort from Peter Ingles kept the Raiders in the game long enough so that they were able to make a rally in the seventh inning but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. The Raiders battled hard the entire game but were unable to get the big hit when they needed it.
Pembroke Hill 5, Holden 0
Holden, MO, April 24- Following a tough game against Pleasant Hill, the Raiders traveled to Holden, Missouri to battle another quality opponent. Matt Ungashick pitched an outstanding game, striking out 10 while throwing a complete game. The offense came through with the big hits when they needed it even after a ten-minute rain delay. The Raiders came away with a big win today over a traditionally tough opponent.
St. Pius X 5, Pembroke Hill 0
Community America Ballpark, May 1 – In a much anticipated game at the home of the Kansas City T-Bones, the Raiders simply could not get their offense going. Defense was solid by both teams, highlighted by the outstanding play of sophomore Jack Dudenhoeffer at third base. On the mound, Matt Ungashick pitched a solid outing after getting out of a rough first inning in which the Warriors scored three runs. Even though the outcome was not satisfactory for the Raiders, it will be game that the players will remember for a long time. They now look ahead to four solid opponents in the next three days.
Grain Valley 8, Pembroke Hill 2
Kansas City, MO 3&2, May 5 – After being rained out in their first attempt to play, the Raiders were anxious to take on the Grain Valley Eagles in the rescheduled game. On the mound, Matt Ungashick and Geoff Butler could not stop the bats of Grain Valley, as they rallied throughout the game. Offensively, the Raiders simply could not get anything going against a solid Eagles team. With this frustrating loss, the Raiders look ahead to redeem themselves in the second game of the doubleheader against the defending Kansas 6A state champions: Lawrence Free State.
Lawrence Free State 13, Pembroke Hill 0
Kansas City, MO 3&2, May 5 – After a frustrating loss to Grain Valley, the Raiders looked ahead to the Lawrence Free State Firebirds. Submariner Peter Ingles could not keep the Firebird hitters off balance, as they scored in every inning. The Raiders again struggled at the bat as they could not get timely hitting when they needed it. The Raiders look to put this game behind them as they look forward to the last week of their season before districts.
Pembroke Hill 13, KC Lutheran 2
Kansas City, MO 3&2, May 8 – After two frustrating losses over the weekend and a rainout on Monday, the Raiders were down to their last regular season game against KC Lutheran. The Raider bats came back to life in this game, scoring in nearly every inning. Defensively and on the mound, the Raiders were solid with pitching performances from Matt Ungashick, Brian Tierney, Geoff Butler, and a solid catching debut by Drew Patton. With this win over Lutheran, the Raiders look ahead to a late added game on Friday against St. Thomas Aquinas.
St. Thomas Aquinas 8, Pembroke Hill 6
Overland Park, KS–Despite the combined pitching efforts of Geoff Butler, Brian Tierney, Brian Herman, Matt Ungashick, and Peter Ingles, the Raiders were not able to hold off a senior heavy Saints team. However, the Raiders did not let the game slip away as they had in previous appearances, they battled every inning in this near come-from-behind victory. Through this gut-check game, the Raiders were able to gain the much needed confidence heading into district play.
Pembroke Hill 12, Ruskin 0
KCMO 3&2–In the first game of districts at their home field, the Raiders faced a young and inexperienced Ruskin team. With a near perfect game performance on the mound, Brian Herman held Ruskin to only one hit. The Raiders will look to build on this offense as they head into tomorrow’s game against a heated rival in Harrisonville.
Pembroke Hill 5, Harrisonville 4
KCMO 3&2–Since last year’s loss against the Wildcats in the semi’s, the Raiders were looking forward to get revenge. The Wildcats went up in the beginning, but the Raiders continuously battled to stay in the game. Matt Ungashick and catcher Drew Patton combined for a solid duo as they held the Wildcats in check long enough for the Raiders to take the lead in the top of the seventh. With this impressive victory in perhaps their biggest game of the year, the Raiders look ahead to the district championship against the Roosters of Pleasant Hill tomorrow.
Pleasant Hill 9, Pembroke Hill 7
KCMO 3&2–After an intense game against a solid Harrisonville team, the Raiders looked to seal the district championship against Pleasant Hill. The Roosters jumped out to an early lead and unfortunately maintained it throughout the game. Even thought they tried to mount a comeback in the late innings, it was not enough to overcome the Rooster lead. The Raiders were able to string together a series of hits and plate several runs, but were unable to overtake the lead. With this disappointing loss, the Raiders say goodbye to their seniors and look forward to a successful 2008. Peace out.
2006 Varsity Game Summaries
Overall Record: 15-6
Pembroke Hill 20Mt. Vernon 14
Mt. Vernon, MO, March 23 – After a planned trip to Springfield, MO on March 22 was rained out, plans were changed and the Raiders’ first game of the season was set to be against Mount Vernon. The Raiders only scored three touchdowns and failed to convert on their final PAT, but still defeated Mount Vernon, who only scored twice – just kidding. In a wild, high-scoringbaseball game, the Raiders managed to hold it together enough to come away with a victory in their first game of the year. The game started off crazy, with a 30-minute first inning that ended with the Raiders leading 7-6. Scoring continued to go back and forth, but the Raiders answered the challenge more often than the Mountaineers. One Raider who exemplified the new Pembroke Hill Baseball slogan “Pickin’ up the sticks in ‘06” was senior Barrett O’Neill. In O’Neill’s first at-bat of the season, he stepped to the plate and drove a ball the opposite way over the right-field wall. The Raiders as a whole were impressive on offense and should improve on the defensive side of the ball as the season progresses.
Pembroke Hill 5, West Platte 2
West Platte, MO, March 31 – The Raiders traveled to West Platte as defending champions of the West Platte Baseball Tournament. The 2006 tournament opened for the Raiders against West Platte High School, and the Raiders came prepared. Pembroke Hill faced West Platte’s “ace” pitcher and were able to get the bats going. Unfortunately, timely hitting was not always the case as the Raiders saw one or more runners stranded on base in many innings. Junior pitcher Matt Ungashick improved over his Mount Vernon outing and helped get Pembroke out of jams in various innings. When he handed the ball to sophomore Peter “Pedro” Ingles, he stepped to the mound and pitched nearly flawlessly. Ingles threw strikes and was simply too accurate and too tricky for West Platte with his submarine motion. Pembroke Hill will face two teams tomorrow on April 1st, St. Mary’s and Lincoln Prep, to continue their defense of the tournament championship.
St. Mary’s 0, Pembroke Hill 9
West Platte, MO, April 1 – In the second game of the West Platte Tournament, the Raiders played nearly impeccably (despite a somewhat sloppy pre-game warm-up). Some have already attributed this to the team trip to First Watch for breakfast; however, the true effects of the team breakfast are yet to be investigated. Junior pitcher Brian Herman threw a complete game, one-hitter shut-out against the Trojans of St. Mary’s, aided in a large way by a solid Pembroke Hill defense. According to coach Jeff Diskin, “The leather was flying!” The Raiders made no defensive errors and after a slow first three innings which ended at 1-0, the bats came into play and Pembroke posted 8 runs in 4 innings. The Raiders also ran the bases with much skill and discipline thanks to training and base-coaches Phil Seifert and Daryl Cronk, and they incorporated the “delay steal” into their arsenal, at times making St. Mary’s look somewhat confused. This game was simply well-played in all aspects and the Raiders would look to continue developing momentum as they head into the effective tournament championship game against Lincoln Prep.
Lincoln Prep 3, Pembroke Hill 9
West Platte, MO, April 1 – In another impressive outing on April Fool’s Day the Raiders did notlook like fools. Senior Chase Bray pitched a complete game and again the Raider defense was first-class. The Raiders have successfully shown that many of the defensive lapses that occurred against Mount Vernon are behind them, and not to be expected again. The Pembroke Hill baseball team also continued in its hitting streak, and it appears that the Raider bats are here to stay. Junior Matt Ungashick went four-for-four from behind the plate, and this effort was complemented by many other Raiders successfully reaching base. Pembroke did not strike out and were walked seven times, creating a walk-to-strikeout ratio of infinity*. The Raider boys continued to run the bases well and nearly scored in double-digits for the second time of the season (again). The Raiders are looking forward to their toughest match-up yet on April 3 against the highly-ranked Grain Valley Eagles.
*Note: The statistical value of the ratio is technically undefined but, come on, infinity sounds better.
Tournament Recap: The Raiders successfully defended their tournament championship over the weekend, going 3-0 in the round robin. This leaves the Raider guys at a perfect 4-0 on the season. The back-to-back tournament championships and the 4-0 start for the Raiders are both first times for the Pembroke Hill baseball program in, well…a long time. The Raiders averaged nearly 8 runs scored per game, less than 3 runs given up per game, and only made two defensive errors in their three-game stretch. Pembroke will look to continue on their undefeated streak, with six games coming up in the next seven days.
Pembroke Hill 5, Grain Valley 13
Kansas City, MO, April 4 – Despite Pembroke Hill’s continued quality hitting at the plate, the Raiders could not stop the Grain Valley Eagles, currently ranked seventh in the state, from pulling away late in the game. Though the Raiders led 3-2 after the first three innings and were tied 5-5 going into the sixth inning, small mistakes began to take their toll and the Raiders simply couldn’t hold it together enough on defense to come away with that elusive victory. Now knowing the feeling of losing, the Raiders will look ahead and tuck this game away in their memory, hoping to continue to play strong with much of the season yet to be played.
Pembroke Hill 9, St. Mary’s 6
KCMO 3&2, April 6–The Raiders did not play a real crisp or clean game tonight, but they played well enough to hold on and win the rain-shortened game 9-6. Brian Tierney had a very good pitching debut by throwing over 70% strikes.
Lakeland 2, Pembroke Hill 12
Lakeland, MO, April 7 – Pembroke Hill proved that they are back to their usual form when they played “Blue Collar Baseball” against Lakeland for the first game of the Clinton-Lakeland Tournament, a five-team round robin. Brian Herman led the defensive effort, pitching a complete game and striking out five batters. Drew Patton led the Raider boys at the plate with two triples in the same inning. The Raiders played solid defense overall and again produced runs at key moments in the game, never allowing Lakeland to stay with them.
Sherwood 1, Pembroke Hill 5
Lakeland, MO, April 7 – In the second game of Pembroke Hill’s double-header they faced the Marksmen of Sherwood. Sherwood proved to be a team that was much improved from last year and played solid defense. However, they could not hang with the Raiders who played solid in all aspects of the game. Pete Ingles filled the starting varsity pitcher role for the first time in his career and could hardly have done so any better. Pitching a complete game (which, by the way, seems to be quite common now among the Raider pitching staff), Pedro gave up no bases on balls and consistently created ground-ball situations. Though the Marksmen were able to put the ball in play, the Raiders again flashed their leather and played stunning defense. Drew “The Machine” Patton seemed to make every play as Pedro had the batters too unsettled to hit the ball hard into a gap. The Raiders also pulled off a great 1-4-3 double play on a hit back to Pedro. Pedro fielded the hit, calmly threw it to Brian Herman who turned and completed the play, throwing the ball to Reed Cope for the out at first. After another promising game the Raiders are 2-0 heading into the second day of the tournament.
Archie 3, Pembroke Hill 5
Clinton, MO, April 8 – The Raiders of Pembroke Hill again played a solid baseball game. Senior Chase Bray pitched for most of the game and was exemplary in providing strikes that turned into easy outs for Pembroke. Chase also made a key double play, when he made an athletic catch after a pop-up bunt, and he kept his cool enough to fire the ball to first to put out the base-runner. The Raiders played well on defense and were able to manufacture five runs at the plate, aided by another Raider triple, this time by Barrett O’Neill. When it was time to close the game, coach Jeff Diskin called on Drew Patton, who came in and did his job. The Machine pitched strikes and finished off Archie, who has a very reputable baseball program. The Raiders’ solid play has propelled the team into the championship game against Clinton, who is also 3-0 in the tournament.
Clinton 5, Pembroke Hill 8
Clinton, MO, April 8 – The Raiders again played Blue Collar Baseball, defeating Clinton in a game that was well-fought by both teams. Matt “Ungie” Ungashick pitched well for five innings and gave Clinton strikes, and his confidence in the Raider defense paid off. However, Clinton managed to get a few hits and led at the beginning of the game 3-0. The Raiders struggled through most of the game to post runs on the board. Pembroke Hill, however, showed that they had no intention of losing. In the fifth inning, the Raiders picked up the sticks and went to work. Chase Bray came through with a clutch hit that scored a run and ignited a two-out rally. The Raiders eventually scored six runs in the fifth inning, taking the lead. In the sixth inning when Drew Patton was called upon again to close out the game, the Raiders helped him out and got themselves out of a jam with yet another double play. With the bases loaded and one out, Drew got a fly out to Matt Ungashick, who had to back up quite a bit from his position at second base to make the catch. Clinton sent their base-runner at third to home after tagging up, and Matt threw the ball to catcher Reed Cope, who caught the ball and made the key tag. The Raiders did enough to hold onto the lead and the win from then on, and capped off a great tournament run.
Tournament Recap: Pembroke Hill won another back-to-back tournament title, bringing the year’s total to two. Surely this hasn’t happened in at least 30 years, perhaps ever for the baseball program. The Raiders showed their ability and discipline playing great defense, continuing to hit the ball well and remaining smart and aggressive on the base paths. The Raiders received a plaque for winning the “Second Annual Clinton/Lakewood Tournament” – leaving Pembroke Hill as the only team who has ever won the tournament. The Raiders competed against very solid baseball programs and never lost track of their goal: to come away with the title. These four wins leave the Raiders at 8-1, a start that without a doubt will put the Pembroke Hill baseball program on the map around the city and around the state.
Pembroke Hill 11, Lakeland 1
Kansas City, MO, April 13 – Pembroke Hill again controlled the game, spreading Lakeland in five innings for the second time this season. Ungie started the game pitching and Brian Herman came in to relieve, and both pitchers did their jobs by throwing strikes and getting their outs, supported again by a strong blue-collar defense. Barrett O’Neill again led the effort at the plate, knocking out two triples and knocking in five RBIs. Ungie converted at the plate also, driving in the winning run with a triple to end the game. In a clean game, there is little more to be said other than the fact that the Raiders controlled the tempo, did the little things and are looking forward to two more home games next week.
Pembroke Hill 5, Turner 16
Kansas City, MO, April 17 – The Raiders played a disappointing game, including two innings that combined for fourteen of Turner’s sixteen runs. Pembroke could not achieve their pre-game goals of no big innings (these two qualified) and no two-out runs (of which there were five). The Turner Bears capitalized on sloppy defense and too many errors by the Raiders. Pembroke Hill again looked promising at the plate and battled to within one run in the sixth inning. Pitchers Matt Ungashick and Pedro Ingles struggled at times but pitched strikes when they were needed, but the Raider defense couldn’t pick them up consistently during the game. The Raiders will hope to put this one behind them and come out strong tomorrow against Lathrop.
Pembroke Hill 12, Lathrop 2
Kansas City, MO, April 18 – Back again to blue-collar baseball. The Raiders dominated throughout the game, playing well in all aspects. Brian Herman threw strikes and overpowered Lathrop, giving up no runs in four innings, and Chase Bray closed out the game easily enough. No one Raider stepped up and carried the team at the plate: all of the hitters played well and manufactured runs, from the beginning of the lineup to the end. The Raiders will look to build off this win as they continue into the “meat” of the schedule.
St. Pius X 6, Pembroke Hill 4
Kansas City, MO, May 2 – After a fifteen-day stretch in which five games were cancelled, the Raiders got out on the field again facing the St. Pius X Warriors. Despite a strong effort on defense and some clutch plays when they needed them most, the Raiders couldn’t hold St. Pius enough to come away with a win. The Raiders came out strong and led 3-0 after the first two innings. Matt Ungashick pitched well as the starter and Chase Bray did more than what was expected of him as a reliever when he entered the game with no outs and three runners on base, and got out of the inning with only one run. Both pitchers were aided again by the Raider defense flashing its leather. The Raiders made three double plays, including a fly-out with the bases loaded to center fielder Barrett O’Neill, who threw the ball on a line and one-hopped it to catcher Reed Cope, who completed the play with the tag out. Middle infielders Peter Ingles and Brian Herman also turned a double play on a ground ball, and Reed Cope made a rare double play when the Pius batter popped up a bunt and Cope first caught the ball, and then caught the first-base runner halfway down the line when he tossed it to Drew Patton. Despite these clutch plays that stopped the bleeding in a few key innings, the Raiders couldn’t manufacture enough runs to put Pius away and finish them off.
O’Hara 3, Pembroke Hill 1
Kansas City, MO, May 5 – After yet another rain-out on May 4 against St. Joseph LeBlond, the Raiders hoped to be ready to come out strong against O’Hara. Unfortunately, Pembroke couldn’t find their usual rhythm at the plate and only managed to put one run on the board. The Raiders stranded runners seemingly every inning and couldn’t string enough hits together to augment their defensive effort. The O’Hara pitcher showed the importance of throwing strikes and working ahead in the count. Ungie started the game with Pedro in relief, and both pitched well. The Raiders again made key plays when they needed them on defense, including a heads-up double play by “the Machine” Drew Patton on an inning-ending line drive which he caught and fired to Brian Herman at second base to put out the runner, who couldn’t scamper back to the bag in time. The Raiders will look to find their hitting groove again when they travel to Smithville tomorrow in order to make up two rescheduled games.
Smithville 7, Pembroke Hill 8
Smithville, MO, May 6 – In an exciting game that was well-fought by both sides, Pembroke Hill came out on top of the Smithville Warriors by a single run. The game was a battle from start to finish, and the Raiders were able to manufacture runs consistently. Pembroke took advantage of sacrifice fly balls and key two-out hits to score runs. The Raiders showed Smithville their offensive ability and never let the Warriors tie the game or take the lead. Paul Fenley, in only his ninth at bat of the season, hit a home run over the wall. Captain Barrett O’Neill earned four hits in four at-bats. Starter Chase Bray handed the ball over to Drew Patton for relief, who pitched strikes and forced ground balls.
Lawson 8, Pembroke Hill 1
Smithville, MO, May 6 – In the second game of the double header, the Raiders were not able to maintain their hitting momentum. The Raiders did hit the ball hard quite a bit, but it seemed as if every solid hit was a line drive right at a Lawson fielder. On the other hand, Lawson was hitting them right where the Raiders weren’t. The Raiders simply couldn’t keep a tempo behind the plate or in the field. On the bright side, sophomore Robert Wright made his first varsity pitching appearance in relief, and he closed out the game. Wright recorded his first strike-out as well as his first given up home run. However, the two runs scored on the home run were the only runs he gave up, and to his credit he pitched strikes well as (or better than) expected.
Lee’s Summit 3, Pembroke Hill 15
Lee’s Summit, MO, May 8 – The Raiders came to play. Starting pitcher Matt Ungashick pitched a complete game, and was backed up by a solid defense who knew what they were doing. Ungie was also backed up by an offense (which he helped out with a few base hits, also) that was driving the ball every which way from the lead-off man to the nine-hole. The Raiders simply were not going to be stopped today and were able to get that message across early as they jumped out early on a Lee’s Summit team who never seemed to get their feet beneath them. The Raiders have been looking for a high-quality win like this against a solid team all season, and this win shows why the Raiders deserved their two-seed in districts. The Raiders will look to maintain their confidence and build off this win as they head into district play.
Pembroke Hill 11, K.C. Lutheran 6
Kansas City, MO, May 12 – Fortunately the Raiders were able to make up the rained-out game against K.C. Lutheran scheduled for May 9. Because it was the last home game of the season, coach Jeff Diskin decided to hold a “Senior Night,” in which all six seniors started the game. The Raiders enjoyed having strong fan support and the seniors did their part in holding a feisty Knight team at bay. Lutheran put up a strong fight and battled the raiders to a score of 7-6 in the fifth inning. Chase Bray pitched in his last home game and did well in keeping a strong hitting team off of the bases for the most part. The Raiders also picked Chase up at the plate, knocking in eleven runs. The seniors’ experience showed at times: little mishaps occurred throughout the game, but the Raiders always came right back out and answered up. The seniors bid farewell to their playing days at the Raiders’ home field at Kansas City 3&2, although no doubt all will be back at some point to see the fruits of their labor and will follow the progress of the Raider baseball program for years to come.
Pembroke Hill 20, Center 0
Lee’s Summit, MO, May 15 – The Raiders proved that they were ready for district play and deserved their second seed in the tournament. The Raiders dominated play throughout the game, and sophomore pitcher Pedro “The Giver” Ingles came out with a strong appearance in the second varsity start of his pitching career. The Giver was backed up again by a solid defense and a strong offensive appearance, where seemingly everyone was hitting against Center. With the first round of the district tournament under their belts, the Raiders hope to build on the momentum they have created tomorrow as they will face Harrisonville, the third seed in the tournament.
Pembroke Hill 8, Harrisonville 9 (9 innings)
Lee’s Summit, MO, May 16 – It was a game of “what ifs.” The Raiders played the Harrisonville Wildcats tough in a back-and-forth game where neither team was able to pull away and close the door. The Giver fueled the Raiders’ fire when he hit a line drive double with the bases loaded to drive in three runs in the fourth inning. Pitcher Matt Ungashick pitched an amazing game, going eight and two-thirds innings and keeping the Raiders in the game at times when the Raider defense was struggling. Harrisonville just seemed to hit the ball everywhere that the Raiders weren’t. The Raiders played smart, tough and with great passion. Hopefully, the Raiders will be able to remember this loss and its disappointing feeling as they enter off-season preparation for next year’s season.
2005 Varsity Game Summaries
Nixa 8, Pembroke Hill 4
Nixa, MO, March 28 – Prepared for their first overnight trip in as long as anyone associated to the program can remember, the Raiders knew they had a tough task ahead of them, playing against three high quality teams. In the first game, Pembroke could not get their bats going until late in the game, allowing the Eagles to jump to an early lead. After a great 4-6-3 double play by Troy Porter and Brian Herman, the Raiders seemed poised to escape the first inning without any damage. Unfortunately, two 2-out runs dug the Raiders into a hole that they would have difficulty climbing out of, despite their crisp defense throughout the game. When the Raiders finally broke into their opponent’s bullpen, the offensive charge was too late. Led by the bat of Brian Herman and the pitching of Jack Dempsey and Teddy Bloch, the Raiders managed to stay close but could not overtake the Nixa Eagles.
Springfield Hillcrest 5, Pembroke Hill 1
Nixa, MO, March 28 – In the second game of their 3-game trip, the Raiders once again showed incredible strides from last year. Solid defense was prevalent, and the Raiders got great pitching performances from Matt Ungashick and Brian Herman. However, 2-out runs were once again a problem. Although the pitching and defense did limit Hillcrest to 5 runs, the offense did not do its part to compete for a victory. Even though they faced good pitching, the Raiders struck out too many times, including several called third strikes. While the defense had its best game of the Springfield/Branson Spring Break Trip, the offense suffered through its worst performance.
Branson 7, Pembroke Hill 0
Branson, MO, March 29 – On the last game of the trip, the Raiders could not keep up with a classy Branson team, whose coach had picked up his 300th victory with the team the day before. The Raiders did not have enough fire and intensity to win the game, with costly errors coming both on defense and in base-running. On the positive side, the Raiders did have a better hitting performance than against Hillcrest, including a crushing blow from the bat of Michael Steinhaus. There is no doubt that it would have been a home run if not for the ferocious wind blowing in toward home plate. Even with the wind, Steiny ended up with a double after the ball one-hopped to the fence. Drew “The Machine” Patton also had a well-placed double, and the Raiders received good pitching from Chase Bray and Teddy Bloch. Meanwhile, Peter Ingles was the first freshman of the year to crack the varsity lineup, seeing action at 2nd base.
Pembroke Hill 17, Southwest Ludlow 0
Weston, MO, April 1 – Everything clicked for the Raiders today. Jack “Big Dog” Dempsey set the tone by striking out the side, followed by a 5-run scoring outburst from the offense in the first inning. The Raiders played a nearly flawless game, with no errors and a hit from nearly everyone in the lineup. The highlight of the game came in the final inning, as the Raiders were trying to preserve their shut-out. After loading the bases with nobody out, Big Dog made sure that none of the runners would ever see the plate. Jack closed the game with a strike out, and the Raiders had won their first game of the season. Today also marked the first game won in a tournament by the Raiders in a long time.
Pembroke Hill 14, West Platte 4
Weston, MO, April 2 – It turned out that the Raider’s first victory was no April Fools joke. The Raiders returned with the fire and intensity that had won them their first game. Matt Ungashick dominated on the mound, followed by the short relief of Teddy Bloch to close out the game. The first inning was scoreless, but the Raiders broke out their bats in the second and never looked back. The Raiders broke the game open by scoring in four consecutive innings, with important RBI doubles by both Brian Herman and Paul Fenley. The defense was also solid, including a 2-out diving grab by Drew Patton to keep key runs from scoring. Had the spread rule not taken effect, the Raiders could have widened the gap even more. As it was, the Raiders headed into the afternoon needing just one more victory to secure first place in the tournament.
Pembroke Hill 8, St. Mary’s 7
Weston, MO, April 2 – If you were looking for excitement this afternoon, you certainly got it. Chase Bray pitched an incredible game, allowing 2 runs in 5 innings. Meanwhile, the Raiders once again had their bats going. Anyone who thought “RBI” stood for “Run Batted In” is mistaken. After this game, the true meaning became “Run Brianed In,” thanks to two clutch base hits to bring in runs by Brian Herman. When the Raiders thought they had the game won, St. Mary’s rallied in the final inning. With the bases loaded, Michael Steinhaus signaled for a pick-off play from reliever Teddy Bloch. The entire stadium thought the runner was drilled, but unfortunately the Raiders did not get the call. A minute later, the game was tied, and the bottom of the inning arrived after one more out. With one out in the Raider’s half of the inning, Steiny singled and soon stole second. Max Ernst stepped up to the plate with 2 outs to try to win the game. He did just that. With a line drive into right field, Max picked up the game-winning RBI, as Steiny came around to score. This exciting finish gave a 3-game winning streak and a first place tournament finish to the Pembroke Hill Raiders.
Grain Valley 12, Pembroke Hill 0
KCMO 3&2, April 5 – Despite solid defense, the Pembroke Hill Raiders could not keep up with the Grain Valley Eagles. The Eagle’s pitcher threw a 2-hitter in a dominating a performance. Pembroke’s sole hits came on a bunt by Troy Porter and a Brian Herman single. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles came with their bats in full force. Pitchers Jack Dempsey, Teddy Bloch, and Brian Herman gave everything they had, but the Grain Valley hitters were simply unstoppable, hitting every type of pitch thrown at them. The Raiders did not, however, play as the score indicated. The defense was nearly errorless, and the offense improved each time around the batting order. It was simply not the Raider’s night to continue their winning streak.
Pembroke Hill 7, St. Mary’s 0
KCMO 3&2, April 7 – Today was arguably the best baseball that the Raiders have played all season. Matt Ungashick threw only 86 pitches in a complete game shut-out, and he was backed by a flawless defense that did not commit a single error. On the offensive side of the ball, the Raiders pounded hits to all parts of the field. After beating St. Mary’s by only one in the previous meeting, Pembroke Hill was determined to shut them down today, which they did with a dominating performance. The Raiders will try to keep the momentum going in the Clinton/Lakeland tournament.
Clinton 6, Pembroke Hill 5
Clinton, MO, April 8 – The Raiders came out flat in the first game of the Clinton/Lakeland tournament. The Raiders suffered through a couple of errors in the first few innings and could not muster anything offensively against a good pitcher. The tide finally turned as the game continued into the late innings. Pembroke Hill got great pitching from both Matt Wells and Drew Patton in relief of starter Teddy Bloch. With a small pitching staff this weekend as a result of the injured arm of Chase Bray, Wells and Patton needed to step up, and they did so in dominant fashion. Reed Cope also helped in a huge way on defense. He drilled five of six runners attempting to steal and scared many more from even attempting to gain the next base. Offensively, Brian Herman sparked the Raiders with a drag bunt for a hit. Going into the final inning, the Raiders trailed 6-3 with 2 outs. The bottom of the order started a rally with a combination of walks and hits, and the top of the order continued to rattle the Clinton pitcher. With RBIs by Brian Herman and Drew Patton, the Raiders pulled to within one but could not go any further. The Clinton pitcher managed to get a strike out when he needed it most, and the Raider’s valiant comeback fell just short.
Pembroke Hill 11, Sherwood 3
Clinton, MO, April 9 – Despite the loss in the first game of the tournament, the Raiders still had a legitimate shot at winning their pool and making the championship game. With the Clinton team watching from the side line, their fate resting in Pembroke Hill’s hands, the Raiders knew they needed to not only win but also to score at least six runs and allow no more than three. If they could reach these goals, all of the teams in the pool would have one victory each, and the tiebreaker of least runs allowed would give the advantage to Pembroke Hill. The Raiders jumped out to an early lead, once again sparked by a lead-off drag bunt by Brian Herman. Unfortunately, the Sherwood Marksmen had already come up with three runs by the fourth inning. Jack “Big Dog” Dempsey had been pitching well, but he knew he had to bear down and keep the Marksmen from scoring any more runs. Big Dog fired himself up and breezed through the next 2 innings, getting several key strike outs. It was not until the final inning that the three runs allowed seemed to be in jeopardy. After getting out the lead-off batter, the next two Marksmen each singled. With runners on first and second, a base hit would be enough to drive in the important run. However, Drew “The Machine” Patton caught the next batter’s line drive and fired it to Peter Ingles, who was waiting patiently on second base for the end of a 5-4 double play. With this 11-3 victory, the Raiders won the big-school pool and moved on to face Lakeland in the tournament championship.
Pembroke Hill 10, Lakeland 0
Deepwater, MO, April 9 – The championship game of the Clinton/Lakeland tournament started with a bang — literally. Brian Herman led off the game with a booming home run to left field against the Lakeland ace. Two quick doubles by Drew Patton and Barrett O’Neill followed the homer to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Brian Herman pitched the entire game, allowing only 2 hits in 5 innings. He was aided by a defense that committed no errors. The freshmen also stepped up in a big way in the tournament. Missing several varsity starters, freshmen Peter Ingles, Nick Butler, Paul Koppel, and Robert Wright contributed with solid defense and several hits. Reed Cope once again had a great game at catcher. With all of these players stepping up, the Raiders dominated the final game and took home their second championship in two tournaments.
Grain Valley 9, Pembroke Hill 6
Grain Valley, MO, April 12 – After losing 12-0 to the Grain Valley Eagles the week before, the Raiders were determined not to let that happen again. Pembroke Hill came out strong and riddled the field with base hits in the early innings. Brian Herman and Drew Patton got things started with quick singles, and Reed Cope picked up an RBI with a base hit to center field. In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles responded with a grand slam to give them the lead. Despite this setback, the Raiders did not fold. Instead, they rallied on offense and even took a 6-5 lead on a 2-RBI double by Michael Steinhaus. Drew “The Machine” Patton and Matt Ungashick also had key doubles, and Reed Cope was speedy on the bases, making the pitcher look foolish with his incredible jumps. The Raiders battled hard, receiving good outings by Ungi and reliever Teddy Bloch, but Grain Valley, whose strength lies in their bats, finally pulled ahead. Unfortunately, the Raiders could not muster up yet another comeback.
Pembroke Hill 6, Lakeland 5; 10 inn
KCMO 3&2, April 14 – Wow. Is there really a better description than that? In arguably the most exciting game in Pembroke Hill baseball (or any high school baseball) history, the Raiders topped Lakeland in an extra innings spectacle. During the first five innings of play, it appeared as though this game would be the fastest of the season. After Lakeland scored one run in the first inning, Jack “Big Dog” Dempsey dominated the mound. Lakeland would never come close to seeing the plate again until the seventh inning. Unfortunately, the Raider’s offense was not quite as successful. Lakeland’s side-arm pitcher held the Raiders in check until the fifth inning, when the Raiders posted two runs on the score board, thanks to an RBI hit by Drew Patton. The Raiders added one more in the next inning to make it 3-1. So far, only about an hour had elapsed since the start of the game, which seemed to be on pace for record time. However, as a result of a couple of mishaps and a persistent opponent, Lakeland crawled their way back into the game, tying the score in the top of the seventh. The Raiders could not manage any runs in the bottom of the inning, and the game sprinted into extra innings. In the top of the ninth Lakeland scrambled for one more run to take a brief lead. The Raiders responded with a huge RBI single by freshman Peter Ingles to tie the game at four. Once again, in the top of the tenth, Lakeland scored another run to jump back in the lead. If you didn’t think the first nine and a half innings were exciting, the bottom of the tenth had to get your blood pumping. Michael “Steiny” Steinhaus led off the inning with a great at-bat, which resulted in a walk. Reed Cope then came up to the plate with the job of advancing the runner, as the Raiders needed to at least tie the game. Not only did Reed lay down a perfect bunt to advance the runner, it was so good that he had no trouble beating out the throw to first. With nobody out and runners on first and second, it was Matt Ungashick’s turn. As soon as he got the chance, Ungi hammered the ball into deep right center field. Reed Cope got an excellent read on the ball (no pun intended) and nearly caught up to Steiny on the base path (ok, fine, the pun was intended). The center fielder fired the ball toward home in an attempt to get out at least one of the runners, but even Reed crossed the plate standing up. Game over. The star of the game, other than Ungi with his game-winning double, was the Big Dog, who pitched nine incredible innings before handing the ball over to Teddy Bloch in the tenth. The Raiders will try to ride this momentum as they take their show on the road against Higginsville tomorrow.
Higginsville 5, Pembroke Hill 0
Higginsville, MO, April 15 – The Raiders did not play their best baseball today. They wasted a great outing by Brian Herman, who pitched five innings before Drew Patton took the mound in the final inning. Although Higginsville featured an excellent defense up the middle, especially at shortstop and center field, the Raiders should not have put a goose egg on the scoreboard. Higginsville jumped ahead early, with a couple of runs in the first inning, and they never lost the momentum. The Raider defense was not as solid as it had been during the rest of the season, and they could not get anything going offensively. It was one of those games that the Raiders will just have to forget about and then focus on the next one.
Turner 6, Pembroke Hill 0
Kansas City, KS, April 18 – The Raiders displayed solid defense and good pitching from Matt Ungashick (4.67 inn.) and Teddy Bloch (1.33 inn). Unfortunately, the offense was completely flat for the second game in a row. Although the Raiders had several hard hits, they were directed right at the outfielders. Other than these line drives, the Raiders had a few hits spread throughout the game, but they were too few and far between to be effective. In fact, the Raiders never even got past second base. The Raiders will need to get their bats going against Center on Thursday in order to win the important district battle.
Pembroke Hill 13, Center 1
KCMO 3&2, April 21, 2005 – The Raiders brought their bats today in a 13-1 victory against Center. Brian Herman got things started with a triple, and Peter Ingles drove him. Drew Patton followed with a double, and soon the other Raiders joined in, with hits by Reed Cope, Michael Steinhaus, and Matt Ungashick to put five runs on the scoreboard in the first inning. On the pitching mound, Matt Ungashick (4 inn) and Teddy Bloch (1 inn) combined with the help of a solid defense to hold Center to only one run. Pembroke never allowed Center to be a part of the game, and they spread the Yellow Jackets in five innings. This victory marked a big district win for the Raiders.
Pembroke Hill 9, Saint Mary’s 0
Independence, MO, April 22, 2005 – After beating St. Mary’s twice already this year, the Raiders knew that the Trojans would be gunning for them. However, Jack Dempsey was ready for anything St. Mary’s had to offer. After a key pick-off in the first inning, the Big Dawg (my apologies for the previously botched spelling) settled down into his rhythm and pitched a complete game shut-out, with the help of solid defense. On offense, the story was 2-out runs, beginning in the first inning. After the first two batters got out, Drew “The Machine” Patton started a 2-out rally with a double to right field. Reed Cope and Michael Steinhaus followed with hits of their own to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead after the first, and the Raiders never looked back. On another exciting note, Drew Patton broke a Raiders record for most doubles in a season, hitting two of them today. With much of the season left to go, the Machine will certainly be able to distance himself from the rest of the pack.
MICDS 9, Pembroke Hill 1
KCMO 3&2, April 23 – The Raiders came out flat today against their across-state rivals from St. Louis. Although Brian Herman (4.67 inn) and Teddy Bloch (2.33 inn) pitched well, the defense was not there behind them. The Raiders were actually in the game in the 5th inning, trailing only 3-1. However, with 2 outs, the Rams launched a 4-run rally to take the Raiders out of the game. Meanwhile, the Raiders could not get anything going offensively. The Raiders will need to clean up their game Monday if they want to compete against Platte County.
St. Pius X 5, Pembroke Hill 0
KCMO 3&2, May 3 – After over a week off due to a monsoon, the Raiders faced an uphill battle against the St. Pius Warriors today. The Warriors jumped off to an early lead, scoring five runs in the first two innings. After this shaky start, the Raider’s defense and Jack “Big Dawg” Dempsey settled down to shut out St. Pius for the remaining five innings. On a side note, going the distance today on the mound, the Big Dawg set a new school record for most innings pitched in a career. Unfortunately, the 5-run cushion built by the Warriors was plenty to secure the victory, thanks to a shut-out performance by St. Pius’ pitcher, who must have been at least twice my size. Even so, the Raiders have no excuse for their lackluster offensive performance. The pitcher was not throwing anything that Pembroke Hill hadn’t seen before, yet the batters still struggled to make solid contact and struck out far too many times. After the last few games, it is clear that the Raiders have taken it to the next level on the defensive side of the ball, but they need to step it up on offense, especially as Districts are fast approaching.
Pembroke Hill 10, St. Joseph LeBlond 2
KCMO 3&2, May 5 – After receiving the news that they would be a 3-seed in the upcoming District tournament, the Raiders certainly played like one today. After allowing two runs in the top of the first, the Raiders defense and pitchers Matt Ungashick (5 inn) and Teddy Bloch (2 inn) held LeBlond scoreless the rest of the way. Offensively, Barrett O’Neill and Drew “The Machine” Patton got things started with one-out singles in the bottom of the first, and Michael Steinhaus followed with a walk to load the bases. Reed Cope stepped up to the plate and hit a controversial line drive to the second basemen, who clearly did not catch the ball before it hit the ground. In a scene filled with confusion, the umpire signaled a catch, and the second basemen doubled up Drew Patton, who had started toward third under the impression that the ball had not been caught. Meanwhile, Barrett also believed the ball had hit the ground, so he raced toward home in an attempt to post the first Raider run on the scoreboard. Based on the umpire’s call, however, the inning was over, and Barrett’s run did not count. Fortunately, the umpires conferred, and in, an excellent example of officiating, reversed the call to its proper ruling. The Raiders now had two runners on (Reed at first and the Machine at second), and Barrett’s run was added to the scoreboard. This play was just the beginning of an offensive outburst by the Raiders, who took the lead with three runs in the first inning. Pembroke continued to play good baseball, achieving their goal of winning the first three innings, which they did in 5-2 fashion. Freshman Peter Ingles also had a huge game, with two RBI hits and a remarkable over-the-shoulder catch at second base to save a run. The Raiders added five more runs in the last couple of innings and had no trouble finishing off LeBlond, who spread the Raiders just last year. This game served as both revenge and as a statement that Pembroke Hill will be a force to be reckoned with at Districts this year.
O’Hara 5, Pembroke Hill 2
KCMO 3&2, May 6 – With a loss to O’Hara, who will be seeded in Districts just below Pembroke Hill, the Raiders could not maintain the momentum from the night before. The Raiders, behind the pitching of Brian Herman (3.33 inn), did squirm out of a jam on defense in the first inning and managed to keep the game scoreless through two, but O’Hara finally broke out their bats in the third, scoring three. Teddy Bloch (3.67 inn) relieved Herman in the fourth, and the Raiders offense showed up in the bottom of the inning. Matt Ungashick walked with the bases loaded, and Peter Ingles followed with an RBI base hit. This two-run outburst put the Raiders right back in the game, but O’Hara tacked on two more runs in the next few innings, and the Raiders could not keep up. The Raiders have one more regular season game next week against Lutheran to get ready for a post-season run.
DISTRICTS
Round 1: Pembroke Hill 13, Center 3
Lee’s Summit, MO, May 16 – Playing as the 3-seed, the Raiders faced off against #6 Center, whom they had beaten 13-1 during the regular season. This game, however, Pembroke did not get started quite as fast. It did look promising in the top of the first when right fielder Troy Porter caught a fly ball and doubled up the runner on first to end the inning, but the Raiders could only muster one run in their half of the inning. Center then responded with a run of their own in the next inning, and the two teams continued to trade runs (and words) until the 5thinning. With the game tied 3-3, senior captain Michael Steinhaus took the game into his own hands and ripped a 2-RBI double that one-hopped to the center field fence. Had it been to either corner, it would no doubt have been a home run. This clutch hit sparked the offense to score five runs in the inning, giving the Raiders an 8-3 lead. Matt Ungashick, who pitched the whole game and allowed only three runs, did not let the Yellow Jackets answer in the next inning. In the bottom of the 6th, Steiny was once again the star. With a runner on base, he jacked a 1-1 fastball over the left field wall to ignite yet another Raiders rally. Peter Ingles finished off Center with a 2-RBI double to put the Raiders ahead by the spread-rule 10 runs, and Pembroke Hill had just won their first district tournament game since 1999 and their first in Class 3A since 1980. Pembroke Hill will face Harrisonville tomorrow, who defeated #7 KC Central 29-0.
Round 2: Pembroke Hill 11, Harrisonville 6
Lee’s Summit, MO, May 17 – Happy birthday Jack Dempsey! No matter what presents the Big Dawg received for his birthday, none could have been sweeter than the one he gave the Raiders today. After giving up two runs in the first inning, the Big Dawg settled down and began his birthday party, allowing no runs for the next five innings. The offense also did its part. Although they did not put any runs on the score board in the early innings, they were hitting the ball well. To show for it, they stranded five runners on base in the first two innings. Clearly, the problem was not hitting the ball; it was getting the runners across. Eventually the Raiders luck was bound to change, and, sure enough, it did in the fourth inning. With Peter Ingles on third, Brian Herman singled to clear the goose egg from the scoreboard, tallying an RBI (“Run Brianed In”). In the next inning, the Raiders tied up the game with a key RBI hit by Matt Ungashick, which scored Drew “the Machine” Patton. After a scoreless 6th inning, Michael Steinhaus started the biggest one-out rally in the history of baseball (please don’t check any record books on that one) with a single in the top of the 7th. Reed Cope followed with a walk, and, after Ungi singled, the Harrisonville Wildcats knew they were in danger. Through a combination of walks and great hitting, the Raiders put together a 9-run onslaught to shock the Class 3A world, including the Harrisonville High School radio station, which was broadcasting the district showdown. The Wildcats attempted to mount a rally in their half of the last inning, but it was too little too late. Teddy Bloch (.33 inn) came to the mound to get the last out of the game, but the day belonged, without question, to the birthday boy. Jack “Big Dawg” Dempsey (6.67 inn) held the Wildcats in check the entire afternoon and allowed the Raider offense to take control of the game. With this victory over #2 Harrisonville, Pembroke Hill advanced to the district championship against #1 Lee’s Summit West.
Championship: Lee’s Summit West 7, Pembroke Hill 0
Lee’s Summit, MO, May 18 – After great performances in the first two rounds of Districts, the Raiders were simply overpowered by the Lee’s Summit West Titans. The game started cleanly with a scoreless inning from each team, including 1-2-3 in the Raider’s defensive half of the first. However, in the next few innings, Lee’s Summit West gradually posted runs on the scoreboard with solid hitting against starter Teddy Bloch (5.33 inn) before Matt Ungashick (.67 inn) relieved to finish the game. Offensively, the Raiders could not get anything going, and whenever a glimmer of hope appeared, it was almost always taken away by a timely Titan double play. Although the Raiders minimized their strikeouts, they could hardly get anything past the solid Lee’s Summit defense. Despite this loss, the Raiders have nothing to hang their heads about. The Raiders battled hard and pulled off two District Tournament victories, which is a feat nearly unimaginable in past years. In fact, if you had said before the season that Pembroke Hill would be playing for the Class 3 District Championship, most people would have laughed out loud. The development of the Pembroke Hill Blue Collar Baseball Program over the last three years has been truly remarkable, and it is one that the seniors will never forget.
2004 Varsity Game Summaries
Overall Record: 7-11
March 25th – Lakeland 5, Pembroke Hill 4
The Raiders could not overcome a rocky top of the third inning in their first game of the year. In the top of the third inning, the Raiders let in four unearned runs and never again tied the score. Although starter Jack Dempsey was the losing pitcher, he looked strong, as he gave up only unearned runs and soft taps. “Steddy” Teddy Bloch took over in the fourth inning and did not give up a single run. The Raider batters, faced with a 5-1 deficit early in the game, fought hard for runs against the Lakeland hurlers. Barret O’Neil, Chase Bray, and “Steddy” contributed important ribbies in the fifth inning to bring the Raiders back to within one, but the hits simply did not fall in on this day. Three times Raider batters came within inches of putting Pembroke Hill ahead with two outs and runners in scoring position. Though the Raiders came up short in this game, they most definitely gave it their best for seven innings.
March 27 – Lawrence 17, Pembroke Hill 5
Kansas City, MO 3 and 2 – The Raiders suffered a spread at the hands of the ninth-ranked 6A Kansas Lawrence Lions, but they did not go feebly. The Raiders hit the ball extremely well, better than the Lions according to some observers. Barret O’Neil and Chase Bray both had booming doubles to right center field, and several other Raiders chipped in with some great hits as well. The Raiders did not look like the same team that registered only one hit in a doubleheader against the Lions last year. On the defensive side, the Raiders had some trouble with routine plays. Neither Jack Dempsey, “Steddy” Teddy Bloch, or Matt Ungashick was hit particularly hard, but the balls were falling in for the Lions. Overall, the Raiders were pleased with the effort, as was the manager of the Lions. After the game, Lawrence’s manager complemented the Raiders for their hitting and their improvement from last season. The Raiders had little reason to hang their heads after this game.
March 30 – Lawrence Free State 9, Pembroke Hill 1
Lawrence – The Raiders played ball with fourth-ranked 6A Kansas Lawrence Free State on Tuesday. They played a full seven-inning game with the Kansas powerhouse. The Raiders actually led 1-0 into the bottom of the third. Free State soon unleashed its offense, though, to coast to victory. The Raiders have nothing to be ashamed of. Four pitchers – Matt Ungashick (the starter), “Steddy” Teddy Bloch, Jack Dempsey, and Chase Bray- showed themselves able to get legitimate Varsity players out on this day. “Steddy”, Jack, and Chase all took the mound in tight situations and left it moments later. On another defensive note, the Raiders completed the first “strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play” anyone around the program can remember in the bottom of the second inning. In that inning, Matt looked to be in trouble with a 3-2 count, a runner on first, and nobody out. Instead of panicking, he fired the ball past the hitter and watched as catcher Andrew Zobrist hosed the Free State runner at second. Overall, the Raiders did not give up any big innings (innings in which opponents score more than three runs), which is one of the team’s goals for every game. Offensively, the Raiders could not really muster much against great pitching and defense. The Raiders manufactured their only run in the top of the second. With one out, Chase completed a perfect drag bunt down the third base line to reach first base. Matt then moved him over to second with a groundout. Chase scored when Free State’s first baseman misplayed Toby Salinger’s hot shot down the line. All in all, the Raiders posted a moral victory against a tough, tough opponent.
April 1 – Pembroke Hill 11, Lexington 5
The Raiders pulled off an impressive six-run victory against the Lexington Minutemen at Lexington on Thursday. The Minuteman, always a strong contender for the Missouri 2A State Championship, spread the Raiders last year. The difference between last year’s game and this year’s game was undoubtedly pitching. Jack Dempsey shook off a three-run first inning homer to record an impressive five-inning performance. He showed great composure by rebounding from the homer as well as some defensive mishaps. Steddy closed out the game with two scoreless innings. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Raiders converted an unconventional double play. With men on first and second and nobody out, Steddy induced a pop-up to shallow centerfield. The Lexington runner on second base was breaking for third on the pitch, so he had to hurry back to second base, only to watch as the ball dropped between shortstop Michael Steinhaus and centerfielder Wiley Curran. Always poised, Curran fired the ball to third to record the force out. Meanwhile, the Lexington runner on first base froze like a deer in headlights. Third baseman Drew Patton alertly threw the ball to second to make a double play. Though the pop-up should not have dropped, the Raiders showed a lot of smarts by turning it into two. On the offensive side, the name of the Raider’s game was patience. Down 3-0 after the first inning homerun, the Raiders dug in at the plate and watched as a sucession of Lexington pitchers imploded. Andrew Zobrist fueled the offense with three walks and a single. Once he got on the bases, however, he really wreaked havoc. He manufactured runs by himself on the bases. He was forever inducing wild throws and taking extra bases. The big hits of the day were supplied by Barret O’Neil and Wiley Curran. O’Neil broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run single in the third, while Curran added two insurance runs with a ringing double to left-center in the seventh. The Raiders will probably raise some eyebrows with this road victory.
April 2 – Pembroke Hill 8, Washington 5
The Pembroke Hill Raiders travelin’ road show continued on Friday, as the Raiders outlasted Washington by three runs. The Raiders never trailed and had an answer for everything Washington threw their way. Matt Ungashick got the win, giving the Raiders four and two-thirds strong inning. Chase Bray finished out the fifth inning, and “Steddy” took over from there. All three pitchers did a great job throwing strikes. They challenged Washington all day to put the ball in play with a great amount of success. Another bizarre defensive play helped the cause of the Raiders. With two outs in the fifth inning and a man on second base, Chase Bray struck out a Washington player by burying a nasty breaking ball in the dirt. Andrew Zobrist, seeing the man on second running on the pitch, instantly threw the ball to thirds base in anticipation. The throw was errant, and the ball rolled all the way to Aaron Wurth in left field. This whole play would have been so beneficial to Washington had their batter taken advantage of the dropped third strike. Instead of sprinting to first, he chose to plod back to the dugout in disgust. Aaron calmly fired the ball to third baseman Drew Patton, who relayed the ball to Ford Bray at first base to end the inning. Offensively, the Raiders used great base running to put runs on the board. The Raiders had two bunt singles and were forever taking the extra base. The Raiders pressured Washington into a lot of defensive mistakes. Wiley Curran and Barret O’Neil both had three-base hits to right center. The Raiders were simply the better team. They beat a team that registered a spread against the Raiders last year for the second consecutive game.
April 5 – Pembroke Hill 10, Butler 0
If you weren’t looking for long on Monday night, you might have missed the Raiders Show Me-West Conference opener against the Butler Bears. The game lasted about fifteen minutes, due to the fine pitching of Jack Dempsey and the errorless defense around him. Dempsey got stronger every inning, reducing his amount of pitches every frame. The defensive highlight of the game was Catcher Andrew Zobrist’s nailing of the Bulter leadoff man at second base. With the game still scoreless in the second inning, the Bears had men on first and third and two out. The guy on first took off for second in an effort to draw a throw from Zobrist, and he got a throw all right. He was out by a good three steps. On offense, the Raiders continued their great baserunning. The Raiders used their team speed to steal bases, take the extra base, induce errant pickoffs, and force errors all game. The Raiders won with ease on Monday night, spreading the Bears in five innings on the shutout performance of Jack Dempsey.
April 6 – Grain Valley 19, Pembroke Hill 1
There were not that many highlights for the Raiders on Tuesday. Ungashick, Chase, and Steddy all pitched well but did not get the support they needed behind them. The Raiders simply did not make the routine plays necessary to play a team like Grain Valley. No matter, though. The Raiders will definitely turn the page on this game and go into their next contest with all of the bad baseball that went on Tuesday behind them.
April 8 – St. Joe Leblond 11, Pembroke Hill 1
It was hard to find a lot of positives in this game. After Barret O’Neil tied the score at one in the top of the third with a two-out rbi single, the Raiders looked ready to pull the upset. Jack Dempsey looked ready to dominate on the mound, and the Raiders could have come away from beautiful St. Joe Stadium with a win. Instead, the Raiders floundered, giving up runs in every inning. A loss would have been enough, but the Raiders really shot themselves in the foot by letting the game get out of hand in the bottom of the sixth. Leblond led only 6-1 going into the inning, but they soon added five runs by taking advantage of sloppy fielding and lackluster focus by the Raiders. The Raiders will definitely need to move on after this one.
April 13 – Pembroke Hill 19, Barstow 6
It may have been a “C” game, but the Raiders brought their “A” bats to Barstow with them. The Raiders piled on run after run on offense. They scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back. First Baseman Michael Steinhaus was the offensive star of the game, logging a tremendous four-for-four performance. He had probably twenty ribbies on the day, and he only lacked a triple for the cycle. His best hit was a majestic grand slam to right center. On defense, the Raiders could have performed a little better, but the pitching was definitely there. Jack and Matt probably didn’t give up any earned runs. The Raiders’ defensive play still needs improvement, but their defensive shortcomings add up to a longstanding goal of the program: to not play that well and still win. ’04 will be defined by the goals for the program that the Raiders achieve, and they can check one off for Tuesday.
April 15 – St. Mary’s 6, Pembroke Hill 2
The Raiders simply did not put it all together today. Though they got great pitching from “Steddy” and Jack Dempsey, the batters did not hold up their end of the bargain. At the high school level, allowing only six runs should be s great indicator of a victory. The Raiders just did not hit the ball well. The only offensive spark occurred in the top of the fifth inning when Seniors Andrew Zobrist and Wiley Curran manufactured two runs with great at-bats and tremendous base running. These two runs brought the Raiders back to within one of the Trojans, but the Raiders allowed the Trojans to answer up in the next two innings to coast to victory. The Raiders made some critical mistakes this game in terms of defense and base running. Two Raiders were picked off of second base, and the Raiders committed more than a few errors in the field. The Raiders will get another chance to beat these Trojans next Friday, and, if the Raiders play like they should, the results will be a little more favorable.
April 26 – Platte County 14, Pembroke Hill 2
Not much to report about Monday’s game. Platte County was a team of exceptional hitters, the type who know how to stay back and wallop the ball to all fields. On defense, they featured a lefty with a great curveball and a righty with great velocity. We’ll get ‘em tomorrow.
April 27 – Pembroke Hill 10, Sherwood 8
The Raiders held on at Sherwood on Tuesday. Jack Dempsey had a superb outing, going six innings and yielding only three runs. He re-entered the game in the seventh with nobody out and men on first and second and threw strikes. With two outs and the tying run at the plate, Dempsey struck out the last Sherwood Marksman to end the game. The play of the game on offense was made by left fielder Ford Bray. With a man on second and one out, Bray made a running catch in left center to help put the final choke on a late Sherwood rally. Offensively, the Raiders built an early lead with great bunting. Three Raiders had bunt singles on Tuesday. They also worked the count pretty well, drawing enough walks to chase the Sherwood starter from the game. The Raiders evened their Show-Me West Conference record at 2-2, with a good victory on Tuesday night.
May 3 – Pembroke Hill 7, Sherwood 6
The Raiders overcame a two-run fourth-inning deficit with two-run single from Michael Steinhaus and a run scored by Drew Patton when the catcher for Sherwood threw down to first. “Steddy” made sure that the Raiders would never again trail. He seemed to get one pitch and one out for the rest of the game, as the Raiders held on for the victory. Chase Bray started the game and pitched admirably for three plus innings. His most impressive inning may have been the third inning. Chase got out of a first and third with nobody out jam without allowing any runs to score. If he had given up any runs, the Raiders would not have regained the lead in the fourth. Aaron Wurth probably had the best day at the plate, chipping in three hits and three runs. He is doing a great job in the leadoff role. The Raiders now stand three and two in the Show-Me West Conference and 6-7 on the year. Let’s keep up the momentum.
May 4 – St. Pius X 11, Pembroke Hill 1
The Raiders fell back into the “one bad inning” scenario on Tuesday, kicking the ball around to the tune of five runs scored by Pius with two outs. The Raiders fielding wasted fine pitching by Jack Dempsey. Aaron Wurth had a big double to put the Raiders in position to keep the game going in the top of the fifth, but the Raiders were not able to get any more runs across. The Raiders will need to rebound in a hurry.
May 6 – Grain Valley 7, Pembroke Hill 5
The Raiders had marked the second game against Grain Valley on their calendars ever since the Eagles embarrassed them 19-1 early in the season. The Raiders played one of their most crisp games of the season at Grain Valley on Thursday. Chase Bray led a Raiders defense that did a great job dealing with the windy and sunny conditions of Grain Valley. Barret O’Neil played a great game in right field. He fought the sun to catch every ball, and made the whole process look easy by cradling any ball within his reach. For his part, Bray pitched great. He went four plus innings against the Eagles, proving that he can pitch against just about anyone. But then, we all already knew that. Matt Ungashik pitched the last two innings, giving up only two runs. Though the offense struck out more than is necessary by any means, the Raiders still went away with the confidence that they can score against any team in the state. Freshman Drew Patton had a great 0-2 single to drive home a run in the third, but Andrew Zobrist provided the biggest blast. Z hit a two-out, three-run homerun in the top of the seventh to bring the Raiders to within two. After the game, several Grain Valley players made a point of saying how much the Raiders had improved between games. Let’s play two games like this one tomorrow.
May 7 – Gm 1: Holden 6, Pembroke Hill 1
Gm 2: Pembroke Hill 11, Holden 3
The Blue Collar Baseball program took another big step on Friday night. Nobody can seem to come up with the last time the Raiders beat Holden, but the Raiders most definitely earned the second game victory. The Raiders pounded out eight straight hits with two outs in the sixth inning of Friday’s second game. They most definitely added some insurance to their slim lead going into the inning. “Steddy” pitched six and two thirds innings in game two, giving up only one run in the process. He had Holden players swinging all over the place with a great assortment of pitches. The first game did not go as well. Though Jack Dempsey went all the way for the Raiders (he pitched a great game) the Raiders did not make all the plays necessary to play with a team like Holden. Perhaps many years down the road, followers of the Pembroke Hill baseball program will remember the first time the Raiders beat Holden, signaling a program headed for the next level.
May 11 – KC Lutheran 8, Pembroke Hill 3
The Raiders wasted three scoreless innings from “Steddy” and a great hitting performance from Brian Herman by shooting themselves in the foot on Tuesday. They made a few errors, a few baserunning mistakes, and looked altogether different from the Raiders of last Friday. This year has been a crazy roller coaster, but the Raiders need to move back up on Thursday. We all have to keep the faith.
May 15 – Pleasant Hill 5, Pembroke Hill 4
It would be easy to say to blame a tough loss on the tremendous distance to the wall in the leftcenter field power alley at the Harrisonville field. A lot of people would say that the Raiders would have won Saturday’s first round district game if Andrew Zobrist’s long fly ball could have landed beyond the wall with two outs and men on second and third in the seventh inning, and they would be right. But for the 2004 Raiders and the Pembroke Hill baseball program, the result of the game is almost beside the point. For the first time all year, the Raiders played errorless baseball. They battled back from a 4-0 deficit to become a part of a game. The Raiders finally achieved the level of play that they were looking for the entire year. They just came up a little bit short. The Raiders got inspired pitching performances from Jack Dempsey and Teddy Bloch. Jack used two pickoffs to pitch a solid three innings, and Steddy was his normal great self for the other three innings. Offensively, Drew Patton reached base three times with great plate discipline and hitting technique, and Michael Steinhaus hit an amazing clutch double to put the Raiders in position for the startling final play of the game. Of course we all wish the ball had sailed over the wall. But the fact is that the effort that the Raiders put forth on Saturday is bigger than that one play. They set the bar for the seasons to come with this performance, and next year the Raiders will keep the program moving, as always, up.