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2-time MLB draftee Carpenter commands the count, and hitters
By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, May 11, 2008
Having a player the caliber of junior Chris Carpenter on the pitching staff makes life easier for Kent State baseball coach Scott Stricklin. For University of Akron coach Pat Bangtson, the feeling was the opposite Saturday at Lee Jackson Field.
Carpenter, who has been selected twice in the Major League Baseball Amateur draft, worked through six innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out eight in the Golden Flashes' 11-2 victory against the Zips.
''He pitched like a high draft pick today,'' Bangtson said. ''We knew going in he was going to be a tough challenge for us.''
Carpenter, a right-hander, constantly worked ahead of batters, minimizing any opportunities the Zips (24-20, 8-9 Mid-American Conference) had to begin any real offensive threat.
''When you're ahead in the count, then you kind of influence the at-bat,'' Carpenter said. ''Make [the hitters] swing at what you want to throw. It is definite advantage being up in the count.''
UA starter Zach Yike was not as fortunate. Yike, a sophomore left-hander, fell behind in the count to Kent State junior first baseman Greg Rohan in the third inning. With one ball and no strikes, Rohan sent the next Yike pitch over the left-field wall for the first of his two home runs in the game.
The solo homer made the score 3-0 Kent State.
''That was the difference today: We were ahead of the count,'' Stricklin said. ''As hitters, we were in positive counts.''
An inning later, Kent State sophomore outfielder Jared Humphreys and junior designated hitter Ryan Mitchell led off the inning by hitting back-to-back home runs off Yike to make the score 5-0. Both hitters were ahead in the count.
Yike ''is the type of pitcher, he has to have command of three pitches and he has to be able to mix it up and keep guys guessing,'' Bangtson said. ''Obviously, when you're pitching from behind, you can't do that. They are way too good of a hitting team to allow that to happen.''
In the sixth inning, Rohan sent a 1-0 pitch from redshirt freshman reliever Benjamin Danziger down the left-field line for his second home run of the game. He was 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. His 16 home runs this season are the most in the Mid-American Conference.
Carpenter was initially drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round of the 2004 amateur draft. Last year, Carpenter was selected by the New York Yankees in the 18th round, but he did not sign.
''He has been very good for us all year long,'' Stricklin said.
UA won the first game of the series Friday and will try to rebound in the final game today at noon at Lee Jackson Field.
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com.
Having a player the caliber of junior Chris Carpenter on the pitching staff makes life easier for Kent State baseball coach Scott Stricklin. For University of Akron coach Pat Bangtson, the feeling was the opposite Saturday at Lee Jackson Field.
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