​Eagles Too Much For Bears

by John Unrein

 
     The Grain Valley Eagles baseball team produced a run in every inning played except the first in route to a 10-0 spread rule victory over the William Chrisman Bears on April 9th. Grain Valley used a recipe of deft pitching, good defense, and timely hitting to produce a strong showing against a Suburban Conference opponent. The victory also leaves intact an undefeated record at home for the Eagles through the first month of the season.
     Starter Joel Palecek and reliever Parker Stone toiled on the mound to produce the shutout for Grain Valley. The duo scattered four base hits to combine with four strikeouts across five scoreless innings. The phrase “In Palecek We Trust” could be heard coming from the Eagles dugout after each of the first four frames. The junior starter continues to display calm body language in mixing his fastball, changeup, and curveball arsenal against opposing offenses. Stone was sharp as well in his one inning of relief.
     Senior catcher Cole Arndorfer was strong behind the plate defensively for Grain Valley. Arndorfer thwarted a steal attempt of second base with a solid throw in the top of the first inning that nullified the Bears chance of scoring. That was followed by Arndorfer assisting his teammates with where the baseball was headed after contact was made at the plate.
     Clear skies and a sunny afternoon left a “high sky” in baseball terminology for the Eagles to sort through. Arndorfer could be heard verifying location of the baseball in the top of the second inning by saying, “Up, no tag by runner.” The assistance by Arndorfer made the catch and knowing what to do with baseball afterwards easier for Eagles second baseman Avery Garmon.
    Big days at the plate were had by shortstop Parker Bosserman, right fielder Alex Snyder, and third baseman Riley Bown. The trio would produce 7 of the 10 runs batted in by Grain Valley. Bosserman would end up going three for three, with a stolen base, and 2 RBI’s. Snyder’s 2 RBI base hit in the bottom of the 4th inning broke the game wide open for the Eagles.
     Grain Valley’s approach of going the other way at the plate against William Chrisman’s southpaw starter Trey Kates paid dividends. The Eagles were determined to look the ball in as long as they could before triggering their swing to make sure they did not get fooled. The methodology worked and Grain Valley was rewarded for their patience.
     “I feel like I am seeing the ball well at the plate. It was a beautiful day outside and that did not hurt either. Focusing on staying back in my stance and hitting ball the opposite way paid off for me today,” Bosserman said.
     Snyder added, “I noticed in my first two at bats that I was way out in front. I changed my approach at the plate to hunt the fastball and make contact the other way in attempting to move runners over.”
     “This feels great in how we are coming together as a team. We are on a roll right now.”
     The growing confidence on display by the Eagles has head coach Brian Driskell content with where his team is headed. There is a new mix to the varsity roster this season with a decent number of seniors who graduated in 2020. It is always uncertain how a new group will gel and if team chemistry will result in support of one another. That has not been a worry for Driskell.
     “It has been a nice theme to see the clutch hitting we have done at the plate. On the opposite side we have also had timely pitching with two outs and not allowed the other team to do the same. Obviously, you do not want to put yourself on those positions defensively. Those are invaluable moments, so come the end of the season we’ll have experience in both comfortable and uncomfortable situations,” Driskell said.
     “Joel (Palecek) continues to throw strikes when he is on the mound for us. We talked as a team afterwards that we can give up five hits in three innings and work around that without the game getting away from us, or our defense getting tired or bored. It is exciting to play behind a pitcher that will keep the ball in play.”
     Driskell continued, “I am glad to see Cole (Arndorfer) be so vocal as a catcher. That is hard for him in that he is introverted. We have pressed him to speak up and support our defense and he has responded. I am happy he is showing comfort in finding his voice.”
     “Trey (Kates) did a good job for them (William Chrisman) pitching. I felt like he had us fooled early. He did a job mixing his pitches and missed in the middle of the plate a few times. We were able to advantage of that in those situations. I think he will be a solid pitcher for them moving forward.”
     Driskell finished, “I am encouraged by what I see from us. I like the temperament of this team. This has been as much fun as I have had coaching in thirteen years.”
     The win over William Chrisman and a subsequent 13-0 victory by the Eagles against North Kansas City in the Northland Baseball Tournament progresses Grain Valley’s record to 9-4 on the season.

Short shop Parker Bosserman waits for the pitch at the plate. 
Photo credit: Valley News staff

Starting pitcher Joel Palecek warms up on the mound.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff

Right fielder Alex Snyder connects at the plate to drive in two runs.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff