SHS Baseball Rolls Through Salem Tourney

The Sullivan Eagles baseball team had an excellent showing at the Salem Tourney. Their pitching excelled in their first two games. Sullivan defeated the first two teams they faced, outscoring both teams with double digit final scores. The Eagles fell in a tough fought game against Pacific in their last game. The boys surged past Cuba in their first game on Thursday, 18-2 They defeated the Salem Tigers later that day, 10-3. Sullivan fell to the Indians on Saturday, 3-2.

Cuba

Mitchell Garner was the driving force against Cuba. He drove in runs in the second, fourth, and fifth. The rest of the Eagles followed with a combined total of twelve hits. Sullivan shined on the mound with Dayton Skaggs and Cambrian Koch hurling 13 strikeouts. The Eagles flew over the Wildcats, 18-2.

In the first inning, the Eagles came alive right away and drove in six runs. Koch was the first Eagle to land first on an error. Gavin Schmidt was struck by a pitch and both runners advanced when they stole bases before Chase Blue struck out. Koch scored on a wild pitch and Schmidt advanced. He scored when Drake Gawer hit a ground ball and reached on an error. Gawer advanced to second on a wild pitch before Skaggs walked. Lucas Parsons walked and the bases were loaded. Gawer scored on a wild pitch and the runners advanced on the same play. Garner hit a ground ball and reached on an error that scored Skaggs. Parsons scored when Koch singled on a fly ball.

In the second inning, Sullivan drove in three more runs. Blue walked and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Gawer singled on a fly ball that advanced Blue to third. Blue scored after Parsons grounded out to first.  Garner drove in another run when he singled on a line drive. He then stole second before Nolan Ulrich singled on a flyball. They drove home another run in the third and another three in the fourth.

In the fifth and final inning, Sullivan secured the win with five more runs. Skaggs walked and advanced to second before Grant Halmick singled on a ground ball. Skaggs and Halmick advanced on defensive indifferences Skaggs scored when Garner hit a sacrifice to the third baseman and Halmick advanced to third. Ulrich and Anden Carey both walked. After a strikeout, Halmick scored when Schmidt singled. Blue hit a fly ball double and drove in two runs to secure the win.

Garner finished the game with four RBIs.

Salem

The Eagles opened up early against the tournament hosts. The boys tallied twelve hits against the Tigers and Lane Blankenship helped put them away from the mound. He only gave up one run in the five innings he pitched. Sullivan slayed Salem, 10-3.

In the first inning, the Eagles drew first blood with five runs. Koch had a good eye and walked and then stole second. He advanced to third on an error made by the pitcher. Schmidt popped up a fly ball that drove home Koch. Schmidt advanced to second and third, before Blue walked. Blue stole second and Schmidt scored when Gawer hit a line drive single. Blue scored when they threw to get Gawer. Parsons was safe on a fielder’s choice. Garner then walked and was scored when Ulrich singled on a fly ball.

In the third inning, Sullivan secured the win with five more runs. Parsons singled after an out and Skaggs did the same. They then both advanced on a passed ball. Garner smacked a ground ball to the outfield and drove Parsons and Skaggs. Garner then advanced to second on an error before Ulrich was walked. Garner and Ulrich both scored when Schmidt singled on a ground ball to center. The Eagles scored their last run on an error.

Skaggs went 2-3 in the game.

Pacific

Sullivan fell in a heartbreaker on Saturday. The Eagles fought a tough battle against the Indians but couldn’t secure the win. The boys fell by one run even though they outhit Pacific by five hits. Sullivan fell to the Indians, 3-2.

In the first inning, the Eagles drew first blood. Koch singled on a hard ground to right field. Blue singled on a ground ball and Koch advanced to second. Koch scored when Gawer singled on a line drive. The Indians scored all three of their runs at their first at bat.

In the fourth inning, Sullivan tallied their last run. Seth Valley singled on a hard ground ball to center and advanced to second on a passed ball. Ulrich ground out to a first that advanced Valley to third. Valley scored when Schmidt singled on a fly ball to right.

Valley was a perfect 2-2 at the plate.