’Makers salvage split

By Clint Thompson

May 10, 2008 12:08 am

— CAIRO — Facing elimination, Cairo coach Ron Best knew a change was needed.
“Sometimes, just acting a little different helps,” Best said about his team’s second game of a best-of-three series against Burke County on Friday. “I kind of got on their tails a little bit, once we got started.”
Following a 12-1 blowout loss in game one of the first round of the Class AAA playoffs, the Syrupmakers responded to Best in the nightcap, winning 15-8.
“In between games, I told them to put that first loss behind us,” Best added. “I think me screaming and hollering and getting a little crazy got their attention.”
Cairo responded with three innings of at least three runs, tallying four in the first, three in the fourth and five in the sixth. Dillon Sholar paced the Syrupmakers’ second-game explosion, finishing 2-for-4 with seven RBIs.
“He hit the ball up the middle and the other way instead of pulling everything,” Best said. “It’s a mechanical thing for him. If he can make himself do it properly, mechanically, he’s a very good hitter.”
Bradley Jones reached base all six times in game two, tallying two hits, three walks and was hit by a pitch. Alex Russell uncorked a solo home run in the first inning to ignite Cairo’s scoring.
It was a sharp contrast to the Syrupmakers’ offensive output in game one when Burke County’s Trent Hillis allowed just five hits and struck out 13.
“I really give 100 percent credit to their pitcher,” Best said. “He had us off-balanced with his really hard curveball. We just never made an adjustment.”
The Syrupmakers struggled with strikeouts in both games, fanning 27 times.
“We’ve struck out a whole lot during the year,” Best added. “It is a concern. We are going to have to put the bat on the ball better.”
Cairo will start Jeremy Crosby in game three today at 2 p.m. The Syrupmakers anticipate seeing Bears left-hander Brandon Love.