EDDYVILLE —
Eddyville-Blakesburg’s Craig Larkin was absolutely overpowering, as the Rocket ace handcuffed the Cardinal Comets Saturday in Class 2A, District 11 postseason baseball action in Eddyville.
Larkin struck out 19 batters — 17 in a row during one stretch — and would allow only two seventh-inning baserunners in the no-hitter. Eddyvile-Blakesburg downed Cardinal, 8-0.
“I used mainly fastballs and after I’d gone through the lineup once and had eight strikeouts, I felt like I would be able to have a big night,” said Larkin.
Joe Olson’s one-out walk in the seventh would end Larkin’s bid for a perfect game. Olson would be erased on a fielder’s choice, and Larkin struck out the final Comet to complete his masterful shutout.
“Craig is a smart pitcher, to go along with his ability to throw different pitches,” said Rocket coach Rod Ashman.
With the victory, the Rockets (27-8) advances to host Mid-Prairie on Tuesday in the district semifinals. Mid-Prairie took an 11-6 win over Pekin Saturday to advance.
The young and inexperienced Comets, coached by first year skipper Jay Olson, gave E-B all they could handle for six innings. Cardinal starting pitcher Josh Kent held the Rockets scoreless for the first three innings.
Although E-B had consecutive two-out singles from Brett Roberts, Christian Bambrook, and Tyler Archer in the first, they failed to score. The Comets used a perfect relay to cut down a runner at the plate for the third out.
The young Comets continued to back Kent as they shut out the Rockets in the second and third.
“We made some plays,” said Olson.
E-B took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth. Archer had his second hit in the inning and scored on a Comet error. Tanner Scott’s single and Jake Crosby’s sacrifice fly drove in runs two and three. E-B failed to score in the fifth and sixth and the score remained 3-0 heading to the seventh.
“We talked with our guys about not taking any team lightly,” said Ashman. “We want our guys to realize that we need to play our game.”
The Comets committed three seventh-inning errors but the Rockets picked up five of their 13 hits in the inning.
“Timing is the key to hitting,” said Ashman. “We finally got some better swings.”
Four of the five Rocket runs were unearned. Archer had his third hit to drive in two.
“Tonight I had to concentrate on waiting back,” said Archer. “Facing different speed pitchers is all about getting your swing together.”
Larkin had a strikeout to open the seventh, worked through the Comet mini-threat, and ended the game with his 19th strikeout.
Eddyville-Blakesburg 8, Cardinal 0
E-B 000 300 5 — 8 13 1
CAR 000 000 0 — 0 0 6
Eddyville-Blakesburg battery — Larkin (WP) (7IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 19K, 1BB), Roberts catching.
2B — Larkin.
Hits — Lane Wells 2-for-4, Roberts 1-for-3, Bambrook 1-for-3, Archer 3-for-4, Trevor Swartz 2-for-3, Ethan Conrad 1-for-2, Drake Menuis 1-for-3, Scott 1-for-4, Larkin 1-for-1.
RBI — Crosby, Archer 2, Scott, Larkin. Runs — Wells, Cory Archer, T. Archer 2, Swartz 2, Conrad 2.
Cardinal battery — Kent (LP) (7IP, 13H, 8R, 3ER, 1K, 2BB), Ty Short catching.
Saturday’s Area District Baseball Results
Quarterfinals
Class 2A, District 8
Van Buren 16, West Burlington 2 (6)
Davis County 7, Central Lee 0
Class 2A, District 11
Mid-Prairie 11, Pekin 6
Eddyville-Blakesburg 8, Cardinal 0
Albia 8, PCM 2
