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Rookie pitcher tosses one-hitter as Smithfield sweeps doubleheader By
Wade Denniston
SMITHFIELD -- Talk about an impressive pitching debut. In his first-ever career game on the hill, Greg Webb pitched a one-hitter in leading the Smithfield Aztecs to a 6-3 American Legion victory over the Preston Indians in the first game of a double-header Friday night at Richard V. Hansesn Park. "I was a little nervous going into it," Webb admitted. The right-hander didn't look it, however, as he struck out three Indians, while walking one and hitting another. In addition to that, Webb didn't allow Preston any earned runs. "That's a great outing," said Smithfield manager Vic Bingham. "We've got a couple of kids gone and we're at the point where we've played so many games we didn't have any more pitching. "He's wanted to throw, so we gave him a chance tonight. He came through. You just never know when a kid is going to step up and do something good for you." Luckily for Webb, though, Bingham told him a day in advance he would be throwing, allowing the center fielder by trade a chance to prepare. "I came down here a little earlier (on Friday) and had a pitcher help me out for a little while," Webb said. The extra help paid off as Webb took a no-hitter into the top of the fourth. But, with one out in the inning, Preston catcher Cejay Golightly laced a double to left-center for the Tribe's first and only hit of the game. While Webb was certainly impressive on the mound, he was equally impressive with his bat, too. Batting in the leadoff spot for the Aztecs, Webb went 3 for 4 with a double, and a run scored. Webb wasn't the only Smithfield player swinging a hot stick, though. First baseman Zac Snow matched Webb with three hits of his own, including batting in a team-leading two-RBI. Todd Barr and Ryan Maw had two hits apiece for the Aztecs, while each driving in a run. Smithfield started the game's scoring in the last of the first when Barr began a two-out rally with a double down the right field line. Snow followed suit with an RBI-single to left that scored Barr, leaving the Aztecs up, 1-0. Smithfield added runs in the second and third innings to increase its lead to 3-0, and with Preston's offense dormant, the Aztecs appeared to be well on their way to an easy win. But that wasn't to be the case. After going up 4-0 in the last of the fifth, Webb ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the sixth. Despite not registering a hit, Preston cut the lead to 4-3 as Smithfield began the inning by committing four consecutive errors, including two by Webb, who overthrew both third and first base. "Well, you've got a guy in there that's a center fielderdoesn't ever play in the infieldnow he's fielding everything from the mound," Bingham said. "He doesn't have a clue of how much time he's got, so he's trying to rush everything." Webb knew what he had to do to get out of the jam, though. "I just had to relax a little bit," he said. Smithfield got two of those runs back in the last of the sixth to give itself a little breathing room. Webb began the inning by connecting on a stand-up double to left, which was followed by three more hits from the meat of the lineup that gave the Aztecs their three-run cushion. SMITHFIELD 12, PRESTON 6 After committing four errors in the first game of the twinbill, the Aztecs muffed five more balls in the second game. But, the miscues still weren't enough to force Smithfield into splitting with the Indians. "We kicked it around a little," Bingham said. The Aztecs opened up a 5-0 lead after the second, and increased it to 9-6 after the fourth, but saw the Indians close it to within three in the top of the fifth. However, Smithfield countered with three runs of its own in the last of the fifth to give it its six-run lead. "We're scoring runs," Bingham said, "just sometimes we give up a lot, as well." The Aztecs pounded out 13 base hits in the game, including five extra base knocks. Dave Webb was a perfect 3 for 3 for Smithfield. Dan Nelson recorded the win as the Aztecs improved to 13-9 overall, 3-3 in Top of Utah League play. BOX SCORES AZTECS 6, INDIANS 3 First Game PRESTON 000 003 03 1 2 SMITHFIELD 111 021 x6 12 4 Greg Webb (W) and Ryan Maw. Scott Madsen (L) and Cejay Golightly. AZTECS 12, INDIANS 6 Second Game PRESTON 003 030 06 10 1 SMITHFIELD 411 133 012 13 5 Dan Nelson (W) and Todd Barr. Kellen Hansen (L) and Chance Randall.
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