Tough to hit this Matt

Story and Photos
by Mike Maddock
Mike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Columbia NE's Matt Branham pitched a complete game striking out 15 Cayce batters. He allowed only two runs, scattered eight hits, and walked just one. Here he collects a ground ball and throws out Cayce's Moses Wagner. Columbia Northeast Post 182 pitcher Matt Branham closed out the American Legion season by shutting down the bats of Cayce Post 130. Branham allowed only two runs, walked just one, and struck out 15 Cayce batters as he pitched a complete game to lead Columbia NE to a 5-2 victory over Cayce Friday, July 7, 2006 at Brookland-Cayce High School.

League 8 director Clyde Blackburn was not sure if Branham's 15 strike- outs were a record. He thought former USC star and now professional pitcher Kip Bouknight may have thrown 16 in a game back when he played Legion ball in the mid to late '90s. The record books may be a little fuzzy, but Branham's performance certainly was not. He threw a mixture of fast balls and curve balls that baffled Cayce batters all night.

Branham helped himself by hitting a double and scoring off a sacrifice fly from Jake Mendiola in the sixth inning.

Cayce first baseman Jonathan Baughman collects a ground ball. Another Matt in the line-up, Matt Hill went two for four including a blast that cleared the left-field fence and plated two runs in the top of the ninth giving Columbia NE a three- run lead.

Matt Branham's performance overshadowed a solid outing from Cayce pitcher Michael Stugart. Stugart allowed only three runs and six hits until Matt Hill's home run in the ninth.

Curtis Murphy went three for four scoring and driving in a run for Cayce.

The game was highlighted by excellent pitching and some stellar defensive efforts. Cayce second baseman Brett Driggers saved two potential runs in the fifth inning making a diving catch of a pop fly to short right field. Driggers again saved a run in the eighth inning when he made a diving stop on a ground ball headed toward centerfield. He then re-gained his composure and threw out Todd Mitchum at first base.

Columbia Northeast right fielder Kyle Espie collided with centerfielder Brandon Faust on a pop fly but still managed to hang on to the ball ending a Cayce rally in the third inning. Espie also had a single and a double at the plate. Third baseman Eric Meadows had two singles and scored twice, and catcher Hunter Bartlett knocked in two runs for Columbia Northeast.

Chris Stuart and Moses Wagner each had two hits for Cayce.

Columbia Northeast moves on to face Rock Hill in the American Legion playoffs.