Wednesday, April 30, 1997

Bulldogs give Ballinger first second-half loss with 13-2 pounding

By MARK WILSON

Staff Writer

Wylie's hitters found a way to upstage pitcher Grant Gregg - almost.

The Bulldogs used a strong wind blowing out to crank five home runs, including two each by Marc Deffenbaugh and Gregg McMinn, in a 13-2 District 6-3A baseball victory over Ballinger Tuesday at the Wylie High School field. The game ended on the 10-run rule after 41/2 innings.

It marked the first loss of the second half of district play for Ballinger, which is now 13-6 overall and 4-1 in the second half. The Bearcats will play at Clyde on Friday.

Wylie, which will play at Coleman on Friday, improved to 3-1 in the second half and to 19-6 overall.

Gregg, who struck out nine batters in only five innings and improved to 9-2 on the season, also got in on the act offensively. He pounded a line drive over the right-field fence to drive in two runs during Wylie's six-run third inning.

Deffenbaugh and McMinn also had two-run homers in the inning as Wylie increased its lead from 4-2 to 10-2.

Deffenbaugh went 2 for 4 with three runs batted-in, and McMinn was 2 for 2 with three RBI to lead the 11-hit Wylie attack against Ballinger pitcher Raul Gonzales (6-2).

"The wind put it into my mind," admitted McMinn, who had been struggling at the plate recently. "I hadn't hit the ball very well in a few games. I got one (homer) and went from there. I hadn't had a lot of confidence lately. I finally got going."

Deffenbaugh, who led off the game with his first homer to left, said, "I was thinking 'relax and swing and just let things happen.' I just thought I got lucky."

Gregg was busy striking out nine of the 22 batters he faced in four innings. He allowed only three hits, including one infield hit, all in the third inning when the Bearcats scored two runs.

"I thought Grant threw the ball as well as he has all year," said Wylie coach Clay Martin. "I thought he threw a lot harder than he has in his last couple of outings.

"For the most part, we were disciplined at the plate and we waited until we got good pitches to hit."

Ballinger coach Grant Lee said, "They really had a good hitting day. You can't defense a home run. But it only counts as one loss. Every game is a must-win game."

Gregg struck out six of seven batters he faced during one stretch in the third and fourth innings.

Ballinger's two runs in the third came after Jason Battle singled and took second on an error. He scored on Blake Smith's triple to right-center, and later came home on a wild pitch.

Wylie had already gained a 4-0 lead. After Deffenbaugh's homer in the first, the Bulldogs got three in the second. Ryan White doubled and scored on a single by Ryan Starks. Jacob Pruitt singled with the bases loaded to bring home two runs.

The six-run third got rolling with two out and none on base. Todd Barnett singled and scored on McMinn's first homer. Starks singled and scored when Deffenbaugh homered again. Pruitt then tripled to right-center before Gregg hit hit two-run homer.

McMinn unloaded his second homer with two out in the fourth, after Mark Powell had walked, stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball. Starks walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error.