Complete Turnaround for Saints at JUCO World Series

Seward sophomore Paul Pulley pitched the gem of the JUCO World Series so far. The right hander from Amarillo Tascosa improved to 8-3 with a complete game in a 5-1 win over Southern Union, Alabama Sunday afternoon at the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. With winds gusting up to 50 miles per hours in from right field, Pulley dusted off Bison hitters retiring three men in the late innings after falling behind in the count 3-0. Pulley is 8-3 this season. Southern Union is eliminated after a 41-20 season.

Pulley actually saved the Saints from an otherwise disappointing afternoon. The Saints stranded 13 runners on base and banged out 10 hits against the cross wind. Tanner Rainey hit a two out solo home run off the left field foul pole in the third to get the Saints started. The ball hit the pole above the 20 foot wall which sits 302 feet away from home plate. It was Rainey’s third round tripper of the season. Willie Gustin followed that up with a two out single two left. JT Bean sizzled a double inside the first base bag to drive home Gustin and make it 2-0. Seward struck for two more runs in the fourth when Rainey singled home Jordan Dallalio who led off the inning with a double. Jake Barrios lined a single to right to score home Steven Polito who had singled on a bunt. The Saints added another run in the eighth when Bean grounded to first driving home Polito who had walked, Barrios, Gustin, and Rainey had two hits a piece.

The Saints are 45-19 after winning their second ever JUCO World Series game. (Seward beat Middle Georgia in 2004). Seward plays South Georgia Memorial Day morning at 11 a.m.Central Time on Talkradio 1270 and kscbnews.net. South Georgia eliminated Jefferson College, Missouri 10-4 Sunday morning.