Squeezing in Some Innings: Rockridge @ Monmouth-Roseville (Baseball)

Rockridge @ Monmouth-Roseville (Baseball)
(4/17/10)

A busy schedule Saturday was on my hands, with a 4:30 a.m. wakeup call to do the morning shift at the radio station. We have a three-man rotation that works weekends (just a couple hours on a Saturday morning).

For some reason, I enjoy waking up this early and working, call me crazy. I guess doing a morning shift for the majority of my 10 years in radio, I have been accustomed to it. The one downside, is the morning coffee at Ayerco. On many a Saturday mornings, I have sipped a lukewarm cup of coffee. Fortunately, today was hot. In fact, it was the hottest coffee I have picked up in some time, as I still had half of my 16 oz. cup full when I pulled into work at about 5:45.

After finishing my morning routine, I wrote the previous blogs here, did some research, and then had to make a trip over to Shopko for a belt. Later in the day, I had a funeral, for Jack Larson, my 87-year old co-worker who had worked in radio for 60+ years. Jack had battled cancer since 2007, but carried on life like there was nothing wrong. He hosted his music show, "Music with Memories", up until a month ago, when the crippling cancer left him bed-ridden. I only knew and worked with Jack for two years, but in the limited time I spent around him, I learned a lot in both the radio industry and more importantly, about life and working with others and helping people.

The reason I had to make the Shopko trip was because I left my belt behind at home. Of course, having two belts is better than one, I guess. They don't last forever. After my belt expedition, I headed over to Sunnylane Field, with the Monmouth-Roseville Titans hosting the Rockridge Rockets in Olympic Conference action.

It was about 10:30 when I pulled down Sunnylane (the actual name of the road that the MRHS sports complex is located). There were cars parked out on the street, down alligning roads, and all over the interior of Sunnylane Field. Fortunately, I found a spot not two blocks away. There was also a Junior High Track Meet going on today. Not sure how many teams were in it, though I know Monmouth-Roseville, Immaculate Conception (Monmouth), United, ROWVA, Galva, and Avon/B-PC were all partaking.

When I walked up, Titans baseball coach and M-R athletic director Chuck Grant greeted me. We talked for a few minutes about the great baseball weather (about 55 degrees and sunny), which was much cooler than the past few days, but typical nice April weather in Illinois. We also talked about the upcoming doubleheader with Rockridge, and the Rockets throwing their ace, Cody Hinson in game one.

Only a handful of baseball fans had arrived at this time, and Rick Chick was one of them. His son, Tim, is the 3rd baseman for the Titans. We talked about the Titans play, and about American Legion baseball for this summer. Monmouth has a young Legion program, and Rick is a coach. They are in need of one more coach for this summer's team. Shawn Temple is also on that Legion staff, and he walked over from the track meet, where he had a son competing. His other son, Alex, is a starter for the Titans baseball team.

Many people turned to watch the 4x400 relay at the track meet, with the MRJH 8th graders, tearing up the competition. That team (Junior Godina, Trayvon Smith, Dalton Hottle, and Martel Hunter) is fast!!! They set the new meet record. Hunter recorded a (11.56) in the 100-meter dash a week ago. All four of them were also on the 7th grade state championship basketball team. Watch out for this group next year!

Cory Jensen started for the Titans on the mound, and struck out a batter, and walked one in the first inning. In the bottom of the frame, Hinson walked leadoff batter Alex Temple, then struck out the next three batters, and carried the consecutive K's into the 2nd inning. Hinson had five strikeouts in the first two innings. He would finish the game off at the plate, launching a two-run blast that gave Rockridge a, 3-1 victory in the first game of the twinbill.

The Titans plated their only run in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Temple led off, and struck out. B.J. Salyers rapped a single, and then was called for the 2nd out of the inning on a fielder's choice by Nate Farm. Tim Chick was then hit by a pitch in the foot (looked like it bounced from the dirt and hit him). With Farm at 2nd base, he attempted to steal third. It looked like he was going to be easily thrown out, but a collision by the Rockets 3rd baseman (right in the basepath) with Farm, popped the ball out of the glove and it rolled into shallow leftfield, allowing Farm to score with his quick hustle.

Monmouth-Roseville held a 1-0 lead, and I had to leave after three innings to get ready for the funeral services. The Titans would force a split with the visitors, taking game two, 9-4. Salyers finished with 2 RBI and 2 runs in the nightcap. I had thought about stopping on my way back from Galesburg, but my McDonalds was tasting awfully good on my drive, plus I was still in the dress clothes, so I drove on by.