Spirit of summer past, part 4: United Linen Braves led by pitching of Yardley, Olenberger
(This is the latest installment in a look at some of the tradition of Bartlesville American Legion summer baseball.)
Paced by the sparkling pitching of Tyler Yardley and Eddie Olenberger, the United Linen Braves subdued a quality Vinita (AAA) Hornet team, 4-2, during Friday action at the U.L. Classic baseball tourney in 2011.
This one felt good for Braves head coach Daniel Hayes.
Really, really good.
The Braves (3-3) continued their unbridled U-turn by claiming their third-straight win.
This one against Vinita was especially big.
Both teams entered Friday’s fray after demolishing their Thursday’s foes.
Hayes installed Yardley on the bump to start against the Hornets.
Good choice.
The hard-throwing, and breaking ball magician, right-hander held Vinita to just four hits and two runs (one earned) during his six-inning stint. He didn’t allow any free passes and faced only 22 batters — four more than the minimum.
Of course, he also got a major assist from his defense, which turned two doubleplays.
Olenberger mopped up in the seventh inning, earning the save. Olenberger allowed one hit and no free passes.
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On the other side of the equation, the Braves’ offense produced seven hits, led by Chris Noland and Isaya Vysotsky with two apiece.
Jonathan Russell scored two runs.
The Braves’ offense threatened in several innings to pile runs on the board.
In the bottom of the first, Noland led off with a walk and Gabe Meidl smacked a one-out single.
But, both were left stranded when the next two batters struck out.
Part 2: Bartlesville Doenges Ford crew stomped Stillwater in 2011
An inning later, Vysotsky led off by stroking a leadoff single — on a 3-and-2 offering — on a bouncer into left field.
He scored a few minutes later on a combination of Russell’s single and a Vinita outfield error.
With Russell waiting in scoring position, and two outs, Noland stepped to the plate. He stroked an infield single, which also led to another error that scored Russell.
Noland ended up stranded on second.
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In the bottom of the third, Jonathon Coyazo started off another scoring push with a one-out walk. Dallas McCarty batted next, delivering a textbook hit-and-run single behind the runner. Coyazo dashed all the way to third on the hit, setting the table for Vysotsky.
Vysotsky whittled off another hopper into leftfield, plating Coyazo to put the Braves ahead, 3-0.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: United Linen Braves led by pitching of Yardley, Olenberger in 2011
