Out of the Parks: Zakk’s slam, Coleman’s homer help Rochester beat Northfield

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Zakk Parks Brady Coleman

WABASH — Zakk Parks singled and hit a grand slam, and Brady Coleman also homered as the Class 2A, No. 3 Rochester baseball team routed host Northfield 18-7 in six innings Monday.

Coleman finished with three hits and three RBIs, and Parker Casper, who hit behind Coleman in the order, had three hits and three runs scored.

Brant Beck singled and walked twice and had four RBIs, and Conner Dunfee, Callen Ferverda and Drew Bowers had one hit each.

Tanner Reinartz and Carson Paulik went a combined 0 for 3, but they combined for four walks, two hit by pitches, three RBIs and four runs scored.

Rochester had 12 hits, walked seven times and reached three times on hit by pitches. Northfield also committed four errors that led to five unearned runs.

“I thought we had a really good approach for probably those first three innings,” Rochester coach Cory Good said. “And I think we kind of let the foot off the gas a little bit there, but clicked it back on there in the sixth again. A day like today, the wind’s blowing out, and you get something up in the air, and it’s going to go. I don’t know if those home runs did us a lot of favors today. I think the guys were trying to follow suit and do the same thing, but I’m proud of the way that we came out of the gates and got some hits right away. We did what we needed to early, but we just need to work on keeping that pressure throughout the entire game.”

Beck got the win on the mound after allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned) in four innings. He walked two and struck out seven.

Casper pitched the final two innings and allowed four hits and three runs (all earned). He walked two and struck out three.

Rochester lost 9-4 at home to Northfield last year, but this time, the first six Zebras reached base and led to a five-run first.

Coleman scored on a wild pitch, Beck had a two-run single, and Parks had a two-run single.

Coleman led off the second with a homer to make it 6-0.

The Zebras then scored eight more runs in the fourth to extend the lead to 14-2.

Northfield’s Ty Leming hit Paulik with a pitch with the bases loaded, and Beck walked with the bases loaded.

That brought up Parks, who hit his first high school homer over the tall chain link fence in left field to make it 12-2.

“It was epic,” a smiling Parks said afterwards. “It felt really nice. … I was looking for a fastball, and he gave it to me.”

Conner Dunfee scored on a throwing error, and Coleman hit a sacrifice fly to right to make it 14-2.

Parks was wearing a brace on his right hand. He said he has been playing with a broken hand that he suffered against Eastern in the Howard County Invitational April 12. Asked if it hurts, he said “sometimes.”

Still, you could not wipe the smile off Parks’ face. After getting significant playing time as a freshman, he missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery.

“It’s a blast, man,” Parks said. “It’s so good to be back.”

Northfield scored two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 14-5 and extend the game into a sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth, Ferverda scored when Coleman reached on an error, Reinartz walked with the bases loaded, Paulik had a sacrifice fly, and Beck had an RBI groundout.

Casper allowed two runs in the bottom of the sixth before closing the game out.

Rochester travels to No. 11 Manchester Wednesday. Both teams are 2-0 in the Three Rivers Conference. It will be their first meeting since Rochester’s 3-2 win in eight innings in last year’s sectional quarterfinals.

“I think we’re excited for the opportunity,” Good said. “I think both teams will come in ready to play. You know, a lot of season left. We’ll kind of see where everything falls, but definitely a big game. It will be another good test for us.”

Rochester 18, Northfield 7 (6 innings)

Rochester 510 804 – 18 12 2

Northfield 020 212 – 7 11 4

WP – Brant Beck (4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)

LP – Daniels (6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K)

2B – Brady Coleman (RHS), Haupert (NF), Hayslett (NF)

HR – Brady Coleman (RHS), Zakk Parks (RHS)