Blair DeBord has tried to remain confident during a rocky time at the plate this summer for the El Dorado Broncos. It’s been a matter of swinging the bat a half-second too early or too late that has been the problem.
DeBord knew those problems would iron out and stayed patient at the plate. It seemed to have done the job Monday night at DeBord hit singles in three straight innings with runners in scoring position to lead the Broncos to a 12-3 eight-inning run-rule victory over the Park City Rangers in third round action of the National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
“When you trust yourself, good things can happen,” DeBord said after going 3-for-5 with four runs batted in, including a two-run single to push the Broncos ahead for good in the sixth inning. “I have been struggling at the plate, but I’ve been really close. I felt there was nothing wrong with my swing. I’ve just been waiting to get good contact.”
The Broncos (22-15) improved their winning streak at Lawrence-Dumont to 14 games leading back to last season’s Midwest regional; and it was another slow start followed by an offensive explosion that was the difference for El Dorado.
DeBord’s two-run single in the sixth inning was followed by a RBI sacrifice bunt by Elliot Frey. All of the runs were scored off of losing pitcher Grant Ledbetter.
The two runs for El Dorado in the seventh inning came on DeBord’s second scoring single, which followed what would have been an inning-ending play on a grounder to third by Tyler Smith, but the thrown ball ripped through the glove of Park City first baseman Shane Hoke.
Frey opened up the eighth inning with a double and came in a double by Noonan, his second in consecutive innings. Giller got on base on a throwing error, allowing Noonan to score from second. Giller scored on a single by Smith. DeBord and Robbie Rea also hit RBI singles and Smith scored on a throwing error at third base. All the runs were charged to Rangers’ reliever Blake Drake, with only one of the six runs earned.
Noonan finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs (he also had a RBI single in the third inning); while Frey had only one hit, but stole three bases against the Park City battery. The Broncos had 12 hits as a team in the victory.
Wichita State product Charlie Lowell gave up three hits and one run — a second-inning RBI double by former Augusta High star Luke McKay — in six innings of work against the Rangers. The lefthander struck out five and walked two for the decision.
“I felt like pretty good that I was hitting my spots,” Lowell said. “I kept my change-up up a little bit, but I was hitting my spots with my slider.”
Park City fell to 21-14 on the season. Starting pitcher Dustin Quattrocchi gave up one run, three hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings of work.
The Broncos will face fellow Jayhawk League member Haysville in a winners’ bracket final game at 7 p.m. tonight at Lawrence-Dumont. Haysville beat Derby 9-4 in another third round contest. Derby faced Valley Center at 1 p.m. today in a losers’ bracket game.
NOTE: The Broncos have added another piece from last season’s NBC World Series championship squad as former Butler Grizzlies and current Emporia State outfielder Dorain Williams will join the team either tonight or Wednesday.
EL DORADO 12, PARK CITY 3
El Dorado 001 003 26 — 12 12 1
Park City 100 000 02 — 3 5 5
Lowell, Guy (7), Rea (8) and DeBord; Quattrocchi, Ledbetter (6), Christensen (7), Drake (8) and Keller. W — Lowell. L — Lebetter. 2B — El Dorado, Frey, Noonan 2; Park City, McKay. 3B — Park City, Tatum. Multiple hits — El Dorado, Noonan 3, Smith 2, DeBor 3, Rea 2. Multiple RBIs — El Dorado, Noonan 2, DeBord 4.
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Blair DeBord has tried to remain confident during a rocky time at the plate this summer for the El Dorado Broncos. It’s been a matter of swinging the bat a half-second too early or too late that has been the problem.
DeBord knew those problems would iron out and stayed patient at the plate. It seemed to have done the job Monday night at DeBord hit singles in three straight innings with runners in scoring position to lead the Broncos to a 12-3 eight-inning run-rule victory over the Park City Rangers in third round action of the National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
“When you trust yourself, good things can happen,” DeBord said after going 3-for-5 with four runs batted in, including a two-run single to push the Broncos ahead for good in the sixth inning. “I have been struggling at the plate, but I’ve been really close. I felt there was nothing wrong with my swing. I’ve just been waiting to get good contact.”
The Broncos (22-15) improved their winning streak at Lawrence-Dumont to 14 games leading back to last season’s Midwest regional; and it was another slow start followed by an offensive explosion that was the difference for El Dorado.
DeBord’s two-run single in the sixth inning was followed by a RBI sacrifice bunt by Elliot Frey. All of the runs were scored off of losing pitcher Grant Ledbetter.
The two runs for El Dorado in the seventh inning came on DeBord’s second scoring single, which followed what would have been an inning-ending play on a grounder to third by Tyler Smith, but the thrown ball ripped through the glove of Park City first baseman Shane Hoke.
Frey opened up the eighth inning with a double and came in a double by Noonan, his second in consecutive innings. Giller got on base on a throwing error, allowing Noonan to score from second. Giller scored on a single by Smith. DeBord and Robbie Rea also hit RBI singles and Smith scored on a throwing error at third base. All the runs were charged to Rangers’ reliever Blake Drake, with only one of the six runs earned.
Noonan finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs (he also had a RBI single in the third inning); while Frey had only one hit, but stole three bases against the Park City battery. The Broncos had 12 hits as a team in the victory.
Wichita State product Charlie Lowell gave up three hits and one run — a second-inning RBI double by former Augusta High star Luke McKay — in six innings of work against the Rangers. The lefthander struck out five and walked two for the decision.
“I felt like pretty good that I was hitting my spots,” Lowell said. “I kept my change-up up a little bit, but I was hitting my spots with my slider.”
Park City fell to 21-14 on the season. Starting pitcher Dustin Quattrocchi gave up one run, three hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings of work.
The Broncos will face fellow Jayhawk League member Haysville in a winners’ bracket final game at 7 p.m. tonight at Lawrence-Dumont. Haysville beat Derby 9-4 in another third round contest. Derby faced Valley Center at 1 p.m. today in a losers’ bracket game.
NOTE: The Broncos have added another piece from last season’s NBC World Series championship squad as former Butler Grizzlies and current Emporia State outfielder Dorain Williams will join the team either tonight or Wednesday.
EL DORADO 12, PARK CITY 3
El Dorado 001 003 26 — 12 12 1
Park City 100 000 02 — 3 5 5
Lowell, Guy (7), Rea (8) and DeBord; Quattrocchi, Ledbetter (6), Christensen (7), Drake (8) and Keller. W — Lowell. L — Lebetter. 2B — El Dorado, Frey, Noonan 2; Park City, McKay. 3B — Park City, Tatum. Multiple hits — El Dorado, Noonan 3, Smith 2, DeBor 3, Rea 2. Multiple RBIs — El Dorado, Noonan 2, DeBord 4.
