Published: May 16, 2008 11:37 pm            

Tucker and Rogers light up No. 5 Brownsburg

Zionsville — Michael Tucker wishes every night was Senior Night.

With one of the top teams in the state visiting the Eagles on a beautiful evening for baseball the senior catcher shined in the spotlight. Tucker homered twice, including a fourth-inning grand slam, scored three times, and drove in six runs as Zionsville upset No. 5 rated Brownsburg 8-4 Friday night.

“I told them that it was their day today,” Zionsville coach Adam Metzler said. “Michael not only had a big night, but he’s been doing it for us all season. This is a kid that really wants to play college ball somewhere and has been the glue for us all season.”

Tucker made sure from the start that his senior day would be a memorable one. With a runner on in the bottom of the first he rocked the first pitch he saw out of the ballpark over the right-center field fence for a two-run home run to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead after one.

That would prove to be plenty for starter Alex Westrick. The freshman hurler struck out five in five innings and gave up just three runs on six hits during a solid outing. Westrick also scored a run for the Eagles (11-10) to help his cause.

“Alex is a great talent,” Metzler said. “He’s only 15-years-old so there are going to be days where he’s on and days where he doesn’t really have his stuff. Monday night he struggled but tonight he pitched well with a lead.”

Brownsburg (18-4) cut the Zionsville lead in half with a run in the top of the third when Joel Stucker singled home Mark Conover with two outs. That put runners at first and second, but Westrick struck out Kurtis Drake to end the threat.

Zionsville added two more in the bottom of the inning on a two out-double by Keith Rogers. With Ryan Price on second and Tucker on first after a pair of singles, coach Metzler put the runners in motion. Rogers then hit a little pop fly into center field that dropped in for a double and scored both runners.

After a scoreless top of the fourth Zionsville blew things open in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Goode walked to lead off the inning before Westrick reached on an error. Disaster seemed to then happen when Leo Charles popped up a sacrifice attempt to the pitcher and Goode was doubled up on second base. Kuhn followed with a single before Ryan Price walked to load the bases with two outs.

Price’s walk brought Tucker back to the plate. Tucker worked the count full before crushing a pitch over the left-center field wall for a grand slam to bust the game wide open.

“Before I stepped in there I honestly said a prayer for strength,” Tucker said. “I just got a really good pitch to hit. It is honestly one of the most memorable moments of my baseball career doing so on senior day.”

Brownsburg added a pair of runs in the fifth and an additional two-out run in the seventh, but never seriously threatened. Stephen Snow pitched the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits.

The Eagles look to make it a sweep over the Bulldogs at 11 a.m. today when the teams meet again at Brownsburg.

        

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