The East Knox baseball team found its stroke, rallying for 11 runs in the fourth inning in a 17-7 victory over Coshocton in five innings in non-league play on Saturday, April 3, in Howard.
Peyton Lester had three hits, drove in four runs and scored twice; and Weston Melick added two hits — including a homer — with three runs and two RBIs to lead the Bulldogs to their first win.
East Knox’s offense stalled at Highland, falling 8-0 on Monday, April 5, in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference-opening game in Sparta.
Brock Church hit a two-run double as a part of a five-run second inning to give the Fighting Scots (4-0, 1-0) the lead.
Blake Jodrey struck out eight and allowed two hits to notch the win for Highland.
Lester had both hits for the Bulldogs (1-4, 0-1).
Freddies rally for six in the sixth to down Pirates
Caleb Sheriff opened the flood gates with a two-run double in the sixth inning to lead host Fredericktown to a 9-3 win over Cardington to open KMAC play on Saturday, April 3.
Sheriff ended up with two hits and three RBIs to lead the Freddies (3-1, 1-0).
Lincoln Cunningham allowed two runs (both earned) over five innings to get the win for Fredericktown.
Avery Harper hit a two-run homer for the Pirates (4-2, 0-1) in the setback.
Mount Gilead runs away from Danville
Carson Van Hoose came within a home run of hitting for the cycle, leading Mount Gilead to an 11-0 victory in five innings over host Danville to open KMAC play on Monday, April 5.
Van Hoose drove in five runs and scored twice; and Carter Kennon had a triple and a double, drove three runs and scored once to lead Mount Gilead (5-1, 1-0).
Cade Smith struck out seven and allowed three hits and two walks over five shutout innings to get the win for MG, which blew the game open with a five-run fifth inning.
Dustin Beckett, Wyatt Weckesser and Noah James had the three hits for the Blue Devils (0-4, 0-1).
Danville dropped a pair of nail-bitters against Fairfield Christian in non-league play on Saturday, April 3.
Beckett and Weckesser led the Devils with a pair of hits apiece in the first game. The visiting Knights scored twice in the fourth inning, taking the lead for good on a Julius Watson sacrifice fly.
Beckett, Walker Weckesser and Kendall Carter had three hits each, but the Devils were out-slugged by FCA 13-11 in the second game.
Andrew Keener hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to account for the final margin.
Trojans beat Knights in KMAC opener
Ian Arny came through with a two-run single in the third inning to give Centerburg a lead it wouldn’t relinquish in an 11-6 victory over Northmor in KMAC play on Monday, April 5.
Joe Tepper scored what turned out to be the winning run on a wild pitch later in the inning. Tepper also picked up the win on the mound.
Griffin Collins tossed three shutout innings in relief for Centerburg, striking out four and allowing two hits.
The Trojans fell 8-3 to Paintsville (KY) to close out their trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, April 2.
Zach Taylor struck out 11 batters over five innings and Gunner Collins drove in three runs to lead the Tigers.
Utica opens LCL play with win over Northridge
Hunter Billman’s big day and Lincoln Valentine’s big fly led host Utica to a 9-6 win over Northridge to open Licking County League play on Monday, April 5, at American Legion Post 92 Field.
Billman had three hits, two runs and two RBIs; and Valentine had two hits, two runs and two RBIs to lead Utica (2-2, 1-0).
Billman hit an RBI double in the first inning and Valentine hit a two-run homer in the second inning to help Utica take a 7-2 lead after trailing 2-0.
Utica couldn’t overcome a six-run second inning and fell 8-4 at Lancaster in non-league play on Friday, April 2.
Collin McCullough and Logan Brokaw each had RBI singles as part of a three-run seventh, but Utica’s rally fell short.
