CABOT–Coming off an 11-day layoff, the Post 64 Angels couldn’t have played much sharper while crushing Cabot Centennial Bank (AA) 16-0 on Thursday in Zone 3 play at Brian Wade Conrade Baseball Field.
Starting pitcher Josh Klapp and closer Josh Wilkerson combined for a no-hitter while the Angels sprayed around 15 solid hits, including at least one from each player in the starting lineup.
After picking up two forfeit wins over Brinkley last week, Post 64 improved to 16-2 overall and 11-0 in zone games going into Friday’s Zone 3 Tournament at Mare Square. “They [Cabot] didn’t play very well but we really hit the ball hard. I told our guys to be patient against their lefty [Bryson Morris] and stay back. We did much better than last time,” said Coach Bobby Brock.
In Heber’s last game on June 26 at Mare Square, the Angels only managed four hits against Morris but handed Cabot a 2-0 loss behind a two-hitter from Tanner Rockwell.
On Thursday, Heber got to Morris early and often. In the top of the first inning, Morris used a curveball to strikeout the leadoff batter but Caleb Brock roped a single to left field and Rockwell reached on an error.
Chas Tamburo, who recently decided to continue his baseball career at Arkansas Baptist, pulled an RBI single through the hole on the left side, which plated Brock. Klapp looped a single into shallow right field that loaded the bases but Morris induced Tyler Reese into a chopper to Jordan Lyons at third and he took the force on Rockwell at the plate.
With two down, Lance Fires delivered a 2 RBI single to left field that scored Tamburo and Klapp as Post 64’s lead grew to 3-0 before Brett Boister flied out to Spencer Roberg in right field.
In the bottom of the first, Klapp retired Cabot in order as he blew away the first batter for a strikeout then Morris hit a hot shot to Reese at third and he made a quick backhand stab and came up throwing to rob the pitcher of a base hit. Klapp got Justin Goff on a groundout to Rockwell at shortstop, ending the first frame.
Heber sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the second while scoring nine runs on five hits. Nine-hole hitter Janssen Wiedower, who finished the game 2-for-2 with three runs and an RBI, was plunked to begin the inning. Wilkerson followed with a high pop-fly to left field that dropped for a base hit then Brock crushed a 2 RBI double to left center that scored Wiedower and Wilkerson.
Rockwell reached on a liner to left field that was dropped and Tamburo reached on another Cabot error, which allowed Rockwell to score as Tamburo advanced to second on the two-base mistake. Tamburo took third on balk and scored when Klapp lifted an RBI, sacrifice-fly to left field, extending Post 64’s lead to 8-0.
After Reese was hit-by-a-pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch, Morris fired back with a strikeout before Boister smacked an RBI single to left field that scored Reese. Wiedower nailed an RBI double to center field that plated Boister and Wilkerson laced an RBI double over third base and down the left field line that scored Wiedower, giving Heber an 11-0 lead.
Wilkerson advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Brock’s chopper to the right side was misplayed as Post 64 took a 12-0 lead before Rockwell flied out to Roberg in right field.
In the bottom of the second, Klapp struck out the first batter before Jacob Luckett reached on an error. Reese made a tremendous backhand and strong throw on Luckett’s chopper over the third base but an error at first base allowed Luckett to reach safely.
Klapp blew away the next two batters, recording his third and fourth strikeouts while only facing seven batters in two frames.
Heber added an insurance run in the top of the third as Tamburo smoked a double to left field and moved to third when Klapp chopped out to Goff at shortstop. Reese ripped an RBI single up the middle that scored Tamburo as Post 64’s lead grew to 13-0 but Morris evaded more trouble by inducing Fires into a 5-4-3 double play turned by Lyons at third and Josh Graham at second.
In the bottom half, Klapp struck out the leadoff batter but Graham worked a full-count walk, giving Cabot its second base runner of the game. The other runner reached on an error.
Klapp didn’t let the walk bother him as he got Zach Uhiden on a high pop-out to Reese at third then Brock handled a slow roller to second for the third out.
Leading 13-0, Heber scored three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth off Jeffery Brown, Cabot’s relief pitcher. After Boister chopped out to Goff at shortstop, Wiedower lined a double into the alley in right center. Wilkerson drew a full-count walk then Brock lifted a sacrifice-fly to right field, which advanced Wiedower to third.
Wilkerson swiped second before Rockwell delivered with an RBI single through the hole on the left side that scored Wiedower. Rockwell moved to second on a passed ball then Tamburo drilled an RBI single to left field that scored Wilkerson, pushing the Angels’ lead to 15-0.
Klapp walked on four pitches and Reese reached on an error that allowed Rockwell to score as Post 64 took a 16-0 lead before Brown struck out the Angels’ pinch-hitter, leaving the bases loaded.
Wilkerson relieved Klapp to start the bottom of the fourth and got immediate help from Max Galt, who made a twisting, running grab near the fence in right field, which preserved the no-hitter. Wilkerson plunked Roberg and walked pinch-hitter Chad Wisely but fired back with a strikeout.
Pinch-hitter Daniel Fox reached on the Angels’ second error, which loaded the sacks before Wilkerson mowed down the final batter with his blazing fastball as Post 64 claimed a 16-0 victory.
