06/16/2012 - Warner, Jones and Conklin lead Toros to first win

Bloomington (O'Neil Park) -- The Twin City Toros were the first to arrive at a locked O'Neil Park early Saturday morning. We were not the only sport going on as there was a swim meet at the pool and a skateboarding tourney in the parking lot, complete with a concession stand.  Little did our hosts realize that our bats were ready to sizzle in the early morning heat on the way to a 15-5 run rule over the Bloomington Barnstormers.

The Toros allowed the Barnstormers to score first as our opponents plated two runs against Toro Starter Nathan Jones in the bottom of the first.  After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Toros tied the game in the top of the third inning.  Two out walks to Kendall Warner and Noah Johnson set the stage for 1B Adam Hoerner to drill a double to right center scoring Warner and Johnson to make the score 2-2.

The Toros took the lead for good in the top of the 4th.  SS Nick Mosele led off with a single.  Brian Zimmerman then walked and Nathan Jones singled to center to load the bases.  CF Evan Jefferson grounded out scoring Mosele to put the Toros up 3-2.

A four pitch walk to 2B Bryce Hendren loaded the bases for clean-up hitter Kendall Warner who greeted a new Barnstormers pitcher with a bases clearing double to right center two make the score 6-2.  Warner later scored on a McLean Conklin single.

The Barnstormers scored two unearned runs in the bottom of 4 to cut the score to 7-4.  The Toros plated one run in the top of the fifth compliments of Kendall Warner's second double of the game scoring Evan Jefferson to make the score 8-4.

A seven run Toro outburst in the top of the 6th put the game away for good.  After McLean Conklin reached on an error to start the inning, a Nick Mosele 2B scored Conklin.  Evan Jefferson added another 2B scoring Nick Mosele and Brian Zimmerman.  Bryce Hendren followed with his second hit of the game scoring Nathan Jones who took one for the team earlier in the inning.  With the score 12-4, Warner was hit by a pitch and the Toros scored three more runs on a wild pitch, hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly by Conklin to run the score to 15-4.

Final score 15-5.  Nathan Jones evened his record at 1-1.  Jones allowed 4 hits, striking out 4 in 4 innings of work.  He allowed 4 runs but only two were earned.  McLean Conklin allowed 1 hit striking out 2 in his two innings of work.  Noah Johnson pitched the 7th for the Toros allowing one hit and one earned run.

Twin City Toros at Blm Barnstormers

Team                1  2  3  4  5  6  7    R   H   E
Twin City Toros     0  0  2  5  1  7  0    15  11  5
Blm Barnstormers    2  0  0  2 0  0  1     5 6  1
W: #24 Nathan Jones (1-1)
L: #10 Beggs

Good Hitting: Kendall Warner (2 hits, 2-2B, 3 Runs, 4 RBI); Bryce Hendren (2 hits, 2 Runs, RBI); McLean Conklin (2 hits, 2B, 2 Runs, 2 RBI); Nick Mosele (2 hits, 2B, 2 Runs, RBI)

Good Pitching: Nathan Jones (4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K); McLean Conklin (2 IP, 1 H, 2 K); Noah Johnson (1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER)

The Toros move to 2-5 on the season and return to action Monday night (June 18th) for a 5:30 9 Inning game vs. the BNBA 16U Blue at NCHS.