Over the summer, no one predicted what happened on Thursday as the Greenville Bears capped their season with a final win and completed the undefeated season at 22-0. Before the season began the Bears lost one of their top pitchers and their schedule was filled with solid competition: some teams state-ranked; some teams two-classes higher; and some teams big rivals.
But on Thursday afternoon as Trey McDaniel struck out the final batter the Bears had accomplished something few teams even dream of: an entire season played without losing a game. The longest streak in Greenville’s record-book appears to be 19 wins by the 1993 team who went 11-0 in the fall. This group of boys crushed that record.
Back row: Coach Blackburn, Alex Hicks, Jason Bratton, Jack Becker, Wil VanMatre, Noah Suratt, Wyatt Barks, Trey McDaniel, Marquan Luke, Tye Huff, Coach Null
This fall the impressive Greenville Bears outscored their opponents 189-50; of their 22 wins – 9 were shortened for the mercy rule (or, run rule); and 6 games were shutouts where their opponent didn’t even score. Coach Jeff Null, in his five Greenville seasons since the fall of 2013, has lead the Bears to a record of 98-19. Only two games short of notching his 100th game Bear victory, he’s fast approaching his 300th career win at 291 victories. In 2015, the Bears record spans two seasons and is a remarkable 44-2.
After the final play of the game, Ben Becker shook the hand of the opposing pitcher, Lane Crowley, who had thrown a great game even though the scorecard recorded an “L”. Becker extended his hand and said, “Great game.” East Carter’s hurler replied, “Thanks. Can’t wait for the spring.”
And that sums it up perfectly for the boys of baseball:
Can’t wait for the spring!
Recap of Bears 22 – 0 Season
8/21 vs Bloomfield – Trey McDaniel hits a walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th winning 3-2.
8/25 vs West County – Trynt Tompkins hits a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 7th winning 5-4.
8/28 vs Doniphan – Trey McDaniel pitches his first shutout and wins 11-0 in five innings.
9/1 vs Neelyville – Trynt Tompkins hits for the cycle winning 16-6 in five innings.
9/3 vs Cooter – Wil VanMatre hits walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th winning 1-0.
9/4 vs Van Buren – Tompkins gets the win. 13-5.
9/11 vs Bismark – Jake Dorris hits double and single and scores both RBIs in win – 2-0.
9/12 vs Arcadia Valley – Ben Becker records his first varsity win as a pitcher – 17-4 in five innings.
9/14 vs Bismark – Ben Becker hits double for 2 RBIs scoring the go-ahead and winning runs – 4-2.
9/15 vs Arcadia Valley – Trey McDaniel hits single for 2 RBIs scoring the go-ahead and winning runs – 4-2.
9/17 vs Naylor – Ben Becker goes 4 for 4 with 3 doubles. Cody Jackson gets the win with only 8 balls thrown on 53 pitches. – 17-0
9/18 vs Puxico – Trynt Tompkins picks up 4th win in 5 innnnigs. Grant Miller goes 4 for 4. – 12-2
9/21 vs Twin Rivers – Trey McDaniel picks up 5th win. Ben Becker scores 3 and drives in 2 more accounting for 1/2 the team’s runs. 10-0
9/23 vs Alton – Bears struggle to score but pick up a win with Ben Becker on the mound. 4-3.
9/24 vs Eminence – Grant Miller pitches 1 inning and picks up his 2nd win. Trynt Tompkins goes 3-for-3 with a HR and 4 RBIs
9/25 vs Seymour – Grant Miller pitches 2 innings and picks up his 3rd win. Cody Jackson pitches 4 innings of relief. McDaniel goes 3-for-3 while Cody Jackson and Ben Becker both go 2-for-3. 14-4.
9/25 vs Crane – Wyatt Barks hits a line drive to the centerfield fence which bounces over the fielder and sprints around the bases for an inside-the-park-homerun. Trynt Tompkins picks up win on 3 innings, Cody Jackson pitches 3 innings of middle relief then Trey McDaniel closes for the save. 11-8.
9/26 vs Mansfield – Bear’s win back-to-back Seymour Wood Bat Invitational. Trynt Tompkins pitches 5th win. McDaniel picks up save. 3-1.
9/28 vs Lesterville – Ben Becker strikes out 15 and picks up 3rd win on the mound. Greenville’s first game with lights as dusk settles on a rainy evening. 7-1.
10/2 vs Clearwater – Trey McDaniel pitches a near-perfect game. 10-0.
10/6 vs Doniphan – Trynt Tompkins pitches complete game for 6th win. Jake Dorris goes 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs.
10/8 vs East Carter – Trey McDaniel dominates on the mound going seven innings with 15 strikeouts. Bears are Ozark Foothills Conference Champions and Undefeated.
Pitchers’ records:
Trey McDaniel (7-0)
Trynt Tompkins (6-0)
Ben Becker (3-0)
Grant Miller (3-0)
Cody Jackson (2-0)
Tye Huff (1-0)
[slickr-flickr tag=”OFC2015″ size=”large” items=”100″ type=”gallery”]