Post 63 stymied in home loss against New Madrid

~ New Madrid starter Jashawn McDaniel recorded the shutout in a 6-0 victory

New Madrid Senior Babe Ruth starting pitcher Jashawn McDaniel has dominated hitters most of the summer for the Ducks.

McDaniels continued to be aggressive on the mound and had control of his pitches, giving up just three hits in a 6-0 shutout of Cape Ford and Sons Post 63 on Wednesday at Capaha Park.

"Jashawn has done that all year for us," Ducks coach Tim Campbell said. "He's been lights out, and he's been able to throw the ball where he wants to. Even when he has a bad outing he recovers quickly. I expected him to come out an throw the ball well and he did."

After a rough outing last week, McDaniel regained command of his pitches, striking out eight batters over six innings.

"I'm just a lot more focused," McDaniel said. "In other games, I've just been too worried about the umpires or other little things that I know shouldn't affect me. In this game I wasn't worried about that stuff. I was focused on getting the ball over the plate."

The three hits that McDaniel did give up were all weakly hit groundballs that did not make it out of the infield.

McDaniel said his fastball and curveball were working effectively and are what kept Post 63 hitters off balance.

"I've struggled to keep that pitch over the plate," McDaniel said about his fastball. "Tonight I was just trying to get it there so I could open up some other pitches and it worked out."

McDaniel helped his own cause, going 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

McDaniel, who played for New Madrid County Central High School and graduated in 2012, will be entering his sophomore season at St. Charles Community College.

McDaniel said he doesn't get to hit much playing for the Cougars, but Campbell has noticed that McDaniel's timing and swing are coming back now that he is getting at-bats with the Ducks.

"Tonight was the first night he's hit like that all summer," Campbell said. "Playing up in St. Charles he doesn't get those opportunities to hit. But the swing is there, it's coming back and it's something that he has been working on, and hopefully it sticks."

Palmer Campbell got things started for the Ducks in the second with a single and stolen base. Campbell scored two batters later on a grounder by Tyler Sprouse. Sprouse hit a groundball to Post 63 shortstop Grant Dix. Dix fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw sailed over the first baseman's head allowing Campbell to score for a 1-0 lead.

Sprouse scored during the next at-bat when McDaniel hit a double off the left field wall for a 2-0 advantage.

Post 63 committed three errors in the game, two of which led to runs for the Ducks.

"It just didn't look like these guys came to the park ready to play defense," Post 63 assistant coach Josh Meyer said. "That's just kind of how summer baseball goes. Some nights you have it and other nights you don't."

Tripp Keene singled to lead off the fourth inning then stole second and advanced to third on a single from Sprouse. Keene scored when McDaniel singled for his second RBI of the game and a 3-0 advantage.

The Ducks capitalized on another error in the fourth.

Sprouse advanced to third on McDaniel's single then scored on a throwing error by Post 63 third baseman Nick Jones to take a 4-0 lead.

The Ducks scored two more in the fifth with singles from Gage Silman, Garrison Keene and Tripp Keene.

Silman led off the inning with a hit and advanced to second on Garrison Keene's hit to right field. Both runners moved up on an a groundout off the bat of Campbell.

Campbell hit the ball back to Post 63 starting pitcher Tyler Essner, who thought about throwing to third to get the lead runner out. However, the Ducks had the hit and run on and Essner's only play was to retire Campbell at first.

Both runners scored during the next at-bat on Tripp Keene's single for a 6-0 advantage.

Essner took the loss for Post 63. He struck out three in five innings and gave up six runs on seven hits.

Devin Austin relieved Essner in the sixth. He gave up two hits and struck out two.

Meyer said it wasn't Post 63's best outing on offense or defense, but he believes the team will be ready to play when postseason play begins.

"We like the position we're in," Meyer said. "We have good players and the talent it takes to win. When districts roll around we'll have everyone ready to play and hopefully we can get it rolling then."

New Madrid 020 220 0 -- 6 9 1

Cape Post 63 000 000 0 -- 0 3 3

WP -- Jashawn McDaniel. LP -- Tyler Essner. 2B -- McDaniel (NM). Multiple Hits -- New Madrid: Tripp Keene 2-4, McDaniel 2-4.