HS baseball playoffs: Memorial defeats Seven Lakes

Memorial defeated Seven Lakes in game one of their Class 5A Regional quarterfinal series Thursday. Memorial won the game, 10-6.

Memorial scored one run in each of the first three innings but left some guys on base as well.

Beau Rathjen hit a three-run homer in the fifth to give Memorial the edge. Then Carter Burgess homered in the 4-run sixth, which really opened things up.

The seven-run stretch over the final two innings made up for the Mustangs' somewhat slow start in terms of hitting with runners in scoring position.

"We left guys on second and third in the first and third innings," Memorial coach Jeremy York said. "That’s what the playoffs are all about, getting the key hit with runners on base."

York said his team was fortunate that those hits in the later innings happened to travel over the fence.

"I thought Kacy Clements pitched well," York said of his starter, who came out after 4 innings with the game tied 3-3. We thought he was struggling a bit with his control (when we pulled him) and figured we'd see if Brock can get us through some innings."

The lefty-throwing Brock also lined up well against a Seven Lakes lineup with several left-handed bats. Brock delivered the save after Memorial scored three times in the top of the fifth.

"You put guys out there and just trust that they can get it done," York said.

"We start all over [Friday]," York said. "They’re dangerous. They swing the bats well.”

Game two is slated for 8 p.m. tonight.