Trojans come back to hand Freddies first KMAC loss, 6-4
In a battle of the top two teams in the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference, Centerburg handed previously undefeated (in conference) Fredericktown its first KMAC loss with a 6-4 decision May 4.
Fredericktown looked to be in command after a four-run second to go up 4-0. With one out, Luke Bean lined a single to center, followed by singles from Teegan Ruhl and Alex Selby. Bean scored on an error, and Brady Lester singled in a run to make it 2-0. Selby scored on a sacrifice fly by Kaid Carpenter to make it 3-0. Trevor Jobes doubled in the fourth run, and the Freddies were in the driver’s seat … but the Freddies didn’t score again.
In the fifth, the Freddies were ahead 4-2 and Centerburg came back to win it with a three-spot. A one-out single by Jarred Rings was followed by walks to Grayson Reynolds and Dalton Hall. Isiah Reynolds was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Jesse Rings doubled in two runs to give the Trojans the lead, which they never relinquished.
Centerburg’s record is now 15-3 overall and 10-2 in KMAC, and Fredericktown retains first place, after falling to 13-3-1 and 10-1 in KMAC.
Finnell throws one-hitter, Jackets beat Minutemen, 4-0
Cash Finnell was lights out on the mound, and the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets topped the Lexington Minutemen 4-0 May 4.
Mount Vernon got the only run it needed with a one-out walk to Caden Rowland in the bottom of the first, followed by a Konner Daughriety double. The MV bats gave Finnell some breathing room with a two-run third. Beau Bridges dropped in a single to right with one out. With two gone, Finnell walked. Trevor Buttke singled in a run, and Marcus Bradley doubled in Finnell to make it 3-0. The Jackets’ final run came in the sixth on a one-out single by Finnell, a double by Buttke and a run-scoring single by Bradley.
The Jackets outhit the Minutemen 8-1. Bradley and Buttke connected for two hits each, and Bradley had two RBIs. Finnell scored twice for Mount Vernon.
On the hill, Finnell pitched seven innings, needing only 73 pitches. He allowed one hit and one walk and struck out six.
The win improved MV’s season record to 13-4, while Lexington fell to 1-6.
Redskins score 7 in second to top Zanesville, 13-5
A seven-run outburst in the second inning was all Utica needed to overcome Zanesville, 13-5, on May 4.
The Blue Devils were ahead 1-0 when Utica came to bat in the second.
Ryan Bigler led off the Redskin second with a single, followed by singles from Jordan Hartman and Aldyn Burgess to load the bases. With one out, Connor Whisner singled in a run. After two Blue Devil errors, Roman Gamble singled in two runs, and Hayden Piper and Bigler each singled in a run. When the inning was over, the Redskins had a 7-1 lead.
Each team put up two runs in the third, and Zanesville made it close with two more in the fourth to cut the gap to 9-5. Utica put the game away with three in the fifth and one more in the sixth for the 13-5 final.
Utica outhit Zanesville 17-5 and was led at the plate by Bigler, who was 4-for-4. Gamble went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and Hartman banged out three hits.
Gamble got the win on the mound, allowing one earned run in four innings. Burgess shut the door in relief with three scoreless innings.
Utica improved to 4-8 on the season with the win, and Zanesville fell to 7-13.
Bulldogs edge Blue Devils in pitchers’ duel, 4-2
The East Knox Bulldogs scored two in the first and led 3-0 after three in holding off visiting Danville, 4-2, May 4.
Starting pitchers Wyatt Weckesser for Danville and Bryar Householder for EK each threw 94 pitches to maintain a close duel throughout. Each pitcher faced 29 batters, with Householder getting the better of it with nine strikeouts, three walks and five hits allowed, while Weckesser took the loss, allowing eight hits and two walks. Weckesser threw 59 strikes, and Householder fired 67 in the zone.
EK did its damage from the top of the lineup as its 1-2-3 hitters accumulated seven of the Bulldogs’ eight hits. Carson Steinmetz was 3-for-4, Peyton Lester went 2-for-3 and Householder was 2-for-3. They set the table for cleanup hitter Landon Spearman, who had two RBIs. Aaron Mezie went 3-for-3 with an RBI to lead Danville.
EK got on the board with two in the first on a single by Steinmetz, an HBP to Lester and an RBI single by Householder. Spearman drove in the second run on an RBI ground out to make it 2-0. Down 3-0, Danville got on the board in the fourth on a one-out walk to Weckesser, a double by Mezie and an RBI ground out by Gavyn Lepley.
Householder retired the side in order in the seventh on two Ks and a ground out to secure the win.
East Knox is now 11-5 and 8-4 in KMAC play and Danville is now 3-13 and 1-11 in the KMAC.
