By Staff
With a 13-5 victory over the Kalamazoo Kobras Wednesday the Niles Junior Baseball Knights clinched a first place finish in the Comstock League.
Jamie Simpson earned the victory, pitching two shutout innings and allowing only one hit. D.J. Wolnik came on in the third and finished the game.
Niles Jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first when leadoff batter Kyle Prak walked, stole second, and scored on a single by third baseman Alex Welch. Welch then scored on a double by left fielder Jake Harris, who scored on a single by second baseman Jeff Jurgonski.
The Knights scored five more in the second, beginning with an in-the-park home run by Prak, his fifth homer of the season. Welch was then walked and scored on a triple by Simpson. Keith Prak singled, sending Simpson home, then scored on a single by Harris. Harris advanced on a pass ball, a wild pitch, then scored on an overthrow.
The Knights put the game away in the third, scoring five more runs. Leadoff batter David Ralston walked and advanced to second when Michael Tanke was hit by a pitch. Two wild pitches later Ralston scored, Tanke was on third and batter Welch was walked. Simpson then doubled, scoring Tanke and Welch. Simpson stole third and scored on a single by Keith Prak. Prak advanced to third on a single by Harris and scored on a ground out by Jurgonski.
Harris went 3-for-3 at the plate while Simpson and Keith Prak were both 2-for-3. Also getting hits for Niles were Kyle Prak, Welch, Jurgonski, and Wolnik.
The Knights return to action Friday evening, playing in the Kalamazoo Invitational at River Oaks Park. The Knights' final league game will be next Wednesday against the Niles Vikings.