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Streaks stay tied for Big 6 lead with sweep, end Rocky's title hopes
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GALESBURG -- Throughout the week leading up to Saturday's Western Big 6 Conference twinbill here at Jim Sundberg Field, Rock Island baseball coach Jay Wayland tried to downplay the games' underlying importance. Needing to sweep conference co-leader Galesburg to keep their Big 6 title hopes alive, the Rocks got the pitching they needed to do just that. However, Wayland's club found the Silver Streaks equal to the task on a chilly, overcast afternoon. After Tim Rossell scattered five hits and struck out eight in the Streaks' 3-0 first-game victory, fellow senior right-hander Colton Crain struck out six in the nightcap and allowed just three hits in six innings as Galesburg completed the sweep with a 4-1 win, eliminating Rocky from title contention. "We never talked about it,'' Wayland said of his 10-12 (3-5 WB6) team's conference status, "but I think our kids knew. You can't control locker room talk, and I'm sure they looked at the paper and saw where we were in the standings, but it really was not our main concern. Our concern has to remain working on things to get better, and I thought we did that (Saturday). "Both teams had the pitching today; these were two really well-played games. It came down to when Galesburg got its opportunities, it got the hits when it needed them. We didn't play badly, but we just couldn't get the hits when we needed them the most.'' In the opener, Rossell and Rock Island's Tyler Pearson locked up in a duel as they traded goose eggs through the first four innings. Galesburg (19-5, 6-2) broke the ice in the bottom of the fifth inning with all three of its runs. Drake Sykes tripled with one out to score two runs, then came home on Chad Johnson's sacrifice fly. That turned out to be plenty for Rossell (7-0), who posted his third shutout out of four Big 6 victories. He capped his performance by pitching out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the seventh. "It gives me more adrenalin, and I think it's more fun,'' Rossell said. "There's nothing better than that, although I always like the win. And playing (to stay in) first place, that always adds a little extra. It makes us want to come out and battle, to see who can win the conference.'' Both teams struck for runs in the first inning of the second game. The Rocks went up 1-0 when Ashton Faramelli walked and scored on a Jake Scudder groundout. The Streaks responded in similar fashion with Carson Cheesman walked and scored on a Chans Sugden grounder. Crain (5-0) and Rocky's Matt Erickson kept that 1-1 tie intact until the bottom of the fourth, when the Silver Streaks took the lead for good on a two-run single by Drew Nall (3-for-3). Cheesman then added an RBI single in the sixth, and pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his first save. "It's the same old thing. Pitching and defense will win you baseball games, and we've gotten solid pitching throughout the year,'' said Galesburg coach Arnie Gonzalez. The Streaks face O'Fallon today at Busch Stadium in St. Louis and wrap up Big 6 play here next Saturday against Alleman. 
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Today is Monday, May 20, the 140th day of 2013. There are 225 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: A petition is being circulated asking the city council to order awell bored in Market Square. It would be a great accommodation to the public.
1888 -- 125 years ago: At 1 p.m. on May 18 the Mississippi River flooded its banks atRock Island and destroyed the warehouse of the Rock Island Lumber Co. and damagedRock Island Arsenal power plant. Total loss is estimated at $100,000.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Residents of Sough Rock Island Township are circulating apetition favoring the annexation of that area to the City of Rock Island.
1938 -- 75 years ago: A group of state members of the National Grandmothers Clubmeeting in Rock Island are making plans to petition for the observance of a NationalGrandmothers Day.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Deere and Co. reported today that its U.S. and Canadian sales forthe first half of the 1963 fiscal year set an all time record of $323,716.628.
1988 -- 25 years ago: William G. Lawrence, first administrative director, has retired fromPECO Enterprises, Inc. Prior to his service at PECO, Mr. Lawrence was the civilianpersonnel officer at the Rock Island Arsenal.
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