Mill Creek Upends No. 5 Allatoona
February 26, 2020
Allatoona v Mill Creek
February 25, 2020
Emerson, GA: No. 5 Allatoona and Mill Creek were originally scheduled to meet early last week, but what has become an early season trend, the game was washed out due to rain. Luckily, with the availability of LakePoint Sports, the game was rescheduled a week later.
Allatoona struck first in the bottom half of the first frame thanks to some inflicted wounds by Mill Creek starter RHP Keaton Anthony (2020; Iowa) and a defensive error. The first two batters of the game reached base safely via walk and hit by pitch. A throwing error on an attempted double play, loaded the bases with one out for the Bucs. C William Mosley (2020) got a pitch he could handle and hit it deep into the outfield, allowing the runner to tag up and score for the first run of the game. Anthony was able to buckle down and strike the next batter out to limit the damage at only one run in the first inning.
To his credit, Anthony was nearly untouchable over the next four innings. The big right-hander worked his fastball up to 88 mph, sitting 85-87 for the entirety of his start. He mixed in a tight slider at 73-75, that showed late lateral movement. He was able to create weak contact and let his defense do the work behind him. In total, Anthony allowed only two hits and one run over five innings, walking two, hitting one batter, and striking out one.
Keaton Anthony (2/25/20)
The Mill Creek offense struggled against Allatoona starter LHP Hunter Paulsen (2021). Paulsen cruised through the Hawks lineup the first time around, working his fastball at 79-82 mph and offering up a slider at 67-69. Despite not having overpowering stuff, Paulsen showed great command, working both sides of the plate and playing into weak contact. The fourth inning got a little dicey when one of the state’s top prospects, and 2020 MLB Draft prospect, Alek Boychuk (South Carolina) and Anthony collected back-to-back one out singles. However, the southpaw hunkered down and got consecutive outs, stranding both runners. Over his five inning start, Paulsen allowed three hits and zero runs, while walking one striking out three.
Once Allatoona went to the bullpen in the sixth inning, Mill Creek jumped all over the opportunity to face a new arm. Ole Miss commit SS Tim Simay (2021) started things off by roping a line drive single into left field for his second hit of the day. Boychuk followed by picking up his second hit of the game on a breaking ball, lining one up the middle. Anthony tied the game up a batter later on his ground ball to third base, which resulted in an errant throw to first, allowing Simay to score. The train kept rolling as OF Landon DePratter (2021) handed Mill Creek the lead with a sacrifice fly to center field. Allatoona would get out of the inning, but the damage was done and the Hawks led 2-1.
Mill Creek reliever RHP Jake Page (2020) guided the Hawks over the final two innings, securing the victory. Page worked 82-84 with his fastball and in the low-70s with a breaking ball, striking out three batters, walking two, and allowing zero hits.
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