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Red-Hot Tarp Skunks Take Pair From Geneva, Improve To 19-7

Jamestown reliever Matt Henson, right, is congratulated by his teammates after recording a save in the Tarp Skunks’ 7-6 Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League victory over Geneva in the completion of a suspended contest Sunday afternoon. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

The Jamestown Tarp Skunks are rolling.

Jack Laird allowed just two hits over six innings Sunday night to help Jamestown to a 5-1 Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League victory over Geneva to complete a sweep of a twin bill at Diethrick Park.

Laird (3-0) worked around four walks and struck out six as the Western Division-leading Tarp Skunks improved to 19-7 with their third straight victory. Laird received assistance on the mound from Matt Henson, who worked a scoreless seventh.

Jamestown led, 2-1, after 5¢ innings, but it pushed across three runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by an RBI single by Mark Tucker and an RBI double by Johnny Kampes, who belted his second home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning.

Tucker and Kampes both finished with two hits, and Danny Hosley added a double.

Jamestown third baseman Danny Holsey makes a catch. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Joe Sperone (1-2) took the loss for the Red Wings.

In the completion of a suspended game earlier Sunday, Hosley’s single scored pinch-runner Cory Blackburn with the go-ahead run and Henson earned his ninth save as Jamestown edged Geneva, 7-6.

Charlie Nichols earned the win, giving way in the ninth inning to Henson, who worked around a single by Thomas Latham, by inducing Benjamin Griffin to ground into a game-ending double play.

The decisive ninth inning started when Kampes drew a walk and Blackburn came in to pinch run. In an effort to keep Blackburn close at first base, Elmira pitcher Jack Clark threw wild in an pickoff attempt, allowing Blackburn to scoot all the way to third. Hosley then followed with his single to left field.

The lead held up in the bottom half of the inning, thanks to the game-ending double play, giving Jamestown its ninth win in its last 11 games.

Tarp Skunks’ second baseman Mark Tucker dives for a groundball. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Several hours later, it would be 10 wins in the Tarp Skunks’ last 12 games.

SATURDAY

TARP SKUNKS EDGE NEWARK

NEWARK — Tucker scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth inning Saturday night as the Tarp Skunks downed Newark, 12-11.

Tucker drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on an error and scored on a fielder’s choice by Blackburn.

That made a winner of Brandon Demmer (1-1). Henson earned the save.

Tucker (double), Hosley (home run), DiMaggio Cazares and Justin Bailey (double) all had two hits for Jamestown, which used a seven-run fifth inning to build a lead that grew to 11-5. But Newark scored six runs in the seventh inning to tie the game only to have the Tarp Skunks push across an unearned run in the eighth.

Four players had two hits apiece for Newark, but the hosts were guilty of four errors and they issued 10 walks. The Tarp Skunks are off today, but will begin a two-game homestand Tuesday when they meet Newark. Elmira comes to town Wednesday.

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