HI NOTES: Former and Future Tigers Kickin' it

Rick Zagone, Frederick Keys
milb.com photo

MU IN THE MINORS

♦ Zagone lifts Keys to second straight win (fredericknewspost.com)

Everyday, Frederick Keys left-handed pitcher Rick Zagone is one of the first guys to enter the ballpark.

Zagone, 25, has spent time in parts of four seasons pitching in the Keys' starting rotation. According to Keys manager Orlando Gomez, Zagone is a "veteran guy" who sets an example for his young pitching staff.

"He's all business," Gomez said. "Our young pitchers over here should watch how he performs and does his routine."

Tuesday night against Myrtle Beach, Zagone was nearly flawless, throwing six no-hit innings before Jake Skole's leadoff single in the seventh.
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Zagone (2-0), walked one and struck out four, displaying a lively fastball that he located well. He has an 0.61 ERA in his three starts, totaling 142Ú3 innings. Overall, Zagone has a 1.31 ERA in six games.

"My fastball felt like it did a couple years ago," Zagone said. "It felt good out there."

MU RECRUITS

♦ Peter Fairbanks • Webster Groves baseball (StLToday.com, 5/1)

A senior first baseman, Fairbanks went 3-for-4 with three home runs, five RBI and three runs scored to lead the Statesmen to a 12-9 win over De Soto. He followed that performance by going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in a 7-0 win over Parkway Central. Fairbanks is among the area leaders in home runs (5) and slugging percentage (.844) and is batting .400 with 17 RBI. Last season, he hit .379 with four home runs and 14 RBI. First-team all-conference in basketball, Fairbanks has signed with Mizzou on a baseball scholarship.

♦ Rock Bridge senior hopes to win championship before playing Missouri baseball (Columbia Missourian)

Senior Ryan Phillips will advance his baseball career in the fall as a new member of the Missouri baseball team. But before he steps into the Division I spotlight, Phillips has a goal he wants to accomplish on the Rock Bridge field.

Phillips signed a letter of intent with Missouri this November after spending four years as a pitcher and shortstop for the Bruins. When he was a freshman at Rock Bridge, the team won the district championship for the first time in 24 years, which is noted on the championship banner in the dugout. After winning the district championship his freshman and sophomore years, Phillips craves another postseason victory before heading to Missouri.

GAME DAY

♦ Arkansas hands Missouri baseball team fourth straight loss (Columbia Missourian)

Rock Bridge graduate John Miles, a right-handed freshman, made his first start for the Tigers and threw four scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one in a three-hit performance.

But he had little support from the struggling Missouri batters, who stranded 10 men on base and, for the fourth straight game, managed just four hits.

♦ Arkansas sweeps Missouri Tigers (Baxter Bulletin)

“Daniel did a super job,” Van Horn said. “We had him set for three innings and he gave us five on 85 pitches. He threw just one pitch the other day and it was a bad pitch at the right time and I think he was really chomping at the bit to get in there and start today.”

Daniel said he charted Wednesday’s success charting pitches for Tuesday’s triumph that included seven shutout innings by starter Nolan Sanburn and reliever Ty Wright.

“I was able to watch their approach at the plate in Nolan’s start,” Daniel said. “They were sitting on breaking balls so I threw 80 percent fast balls going in and out on the hitters. It looked to me and Coach Jorn (pitching coach Dave Jorn) we could beat them with the fast ball.”