The Centerburg Trojans took both games of a back-to-back series against the Northmor Golden Knights this week, securing a 2-0 win on Wednesday behind a dominant pitching performance from Daniel Lemaster before completing the sweep with a 5-3 victory on Thursday.
Game 1: Lemaster strikes out 20 in shutout win
Lemaster was nearly unhittable in the series opener, striking out 20 batters while allowing just one hit and three walks over seven scoreless innings. His dominance on the mound led Centerburg to a 2-0 win at home.
The Trojans scored both of their runs in the first inning, capitalizing on a passed ball and an error by Northmor. That early lead held as Lemaster shut down the Golden Knights’ lineup.
Northmor’s Trevor Brubaker pitched well in the loss, allowing two unearned runs on three hits over six innings while striking out six.
Aiden Trobridge led Centerburg with two hits, while Clarke Redd recorded the team’s lone RBI. Defensively, the Trojans played an error-free game, with Mason Vallance collecting 20 chances in the field.
Jack Bowdre had the only hit for Northmor, but the Knights struggled to generate offense against Lemaster’s overpowering performance.
Game 2: Centerburg rallies late to take 5-3 victory
On Thursday, the Trojans completed the sweep with a 5-3 road win, breaking a tie game with a four-run fifth inning.
Centerburg took an early lead in the first when Jonah Gribben drew a bases-loaded walk, but Northmor answered in the second on a sacrifice bunt by Brady Carr.
The decisive fifth inning saw Ricky Faught ground out to bring in a run, followed by a two-run single from Ryan Long and an RBI double from Gribben to extend the lead to 5-1.
Faught earned the win on the mound, allowing just one unearned run on two hits over four innings while striking out five. Vinny Morgan collected the save, and Trobridge also appeared in relief.
Hinton took the loss for Northmor, surrendering two runs on two hits over four and one-third innings with six strikeouts.
Trobridge led the Trojans offensively with two hits, while Long and Gribben each drove in two runs.
For Northmor, Brubaker, Bowdre, Hinton, and Cole Cuffman each tallied a hit, with Cuffman and Carr collecting RBIs. The Golden Knights played error-free defense, with Brubaker recording 11 chances in the field.
Centerburg will look to extend its winning streak when it faces Mt. Gilead on Monday.
