Tigers open season on winning note
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The McClain Tigers opened the 2011 baseball season on a winning note, Monday afternoon, defeating the West Union Dragons 8-2 at Mitchell Park, in Greenfield.
The Tigers (1-0) compiled a four-run sixth, a three-run first and one-run fourth for their eight total runs.
West Union (0-1) scored their runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Jacob Dillon and Ryan Perie each led MHS at the plate, going 2-for-3. Dillon had two singles, with two steals and two runs, and was hit by a pitch. Perie scored one run. Zach Uhl was 2-for-4 with one run and two RBIs.
Also gaining hits for the defending South Central Ohio League champion Tigers were Tanner VanZant, Dustin Taylor and Kyle Flora, as MHS collected nine total hits, two for extra bases. VanZant and Thorne Hester each had one RBI.
Flora (1-0) was the winning pitcher, pitching a complete seven-inning game. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and no walks, along with two strikeouts and one hit batter. Flora totaled 97 pitches while facing 28 batters.
"Kyle pitched very well," Brandon Streitenberger said. "He was very efficient with his pitches. He had great command of his curveball. He was able to throw his breaking pitch for strikes. He was also spotting his fastball well. He had good defense behind him, too."
The MHS coach spoke about his defense.
"We were pretty solid defensively. We made plays for Kyle. As long as (our pitchers) can throw strikes, we have a good chance to be competitive," he said.
MHS began their season with a three-run first inning with Dillon reaching first with a lead-off hit by pitch on a 3-1 count. Uhl then reached first on a single, and Taylor was hit by a pitch as the trio of runners eventually crossed home plate.
The Tigers added one run in the fourth when Brent Shannon, who reached the bases on an error, scored a run.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Shannon, Perie, Dillon and Ryan Duff all scored runs. Duff was a pinch runner for Hester.
Brad Grooms was charged with the loss for WU. He pitched six innings with seven strikeouts, while allowing nine hits. All eight runs by the Tigers were unearned. Grooms hit two batters.
"This was a good start to the season," Streitenberger said.
The Tigers will face Logan Elm on Tuesday at LEHS.
BOX SCORE
WUHS 000 001 1 — 2 6 4
MHS 300 104 x — 8 9 1[[In-content Ad]]
The Tigers (1-0) compiled a four-run sixth, a three-run first and one-run fourth for their eight total runs.
West Union (0-1) scored their runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Jacob Dillon and Ryan Perie each led MHS at the plate, going 2-for-3. Dillon had two singles, with two steals and two runs, and was hit by a pitch. Perie scored one run. Zach Uhl was 2-for-4 with one run and two RBIs.
Also gaining hits for the defending South Central Ohio League champion Tigers were Tanner VanZant, Dustin Taylor and Kyle Flora, as MHS collected nine total hits, two for extra bases. VanZant and Thorne Hester each had one RBI.
Flora (1-0) was the winning pitcher, pitching a complete seven-inning game. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and no walks, along with two strikeouts and one hit batter. Flora totaled 97 pitches while facing 28 batters.
"Kyle pitched very well," Brandon Streitenberger said. "He was very efficient with his pitches. He had great command of his curveball. He was able to throw his breaking pitch for strikes. He was also spotting his fastball well. He had good defense behind him, too."
The MHS coach spoke about his defense.
"We were pretty solid defensively. We made plays for Kyle. As long as (our pitchers) can throw strikes, we have a good chance to be competitive," he said.
MHS began their season with a three-run first inning with Dillon reaching first with a lead-off hit by pitch on a 3-1 count. Uhl then reached first on a single, and Taylor was hit by a pitch as the trio of runners eventually crossed home plate.
The Tigers added one run in the fourth when Brent Shannon, who reached the bases on an error, scored a run.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Shannon, Perie, Dillon and Ryan Duff all scored runs. Duff was a pinch runner for Hester.
Brad Grooms was charged with the loss for WU. He pitched six innings with seven strikeouts, while allowing nine hits. All eight runs by the Tigers were unearned. Grooms hit two batters.
"This was a good start to the season," Streitenberger said.
The Tigers will face Logan Elm on Tuesday at LEHS.
BOX SCORE
WUHS 000 001 1 — 2 6 4
MHS 300 104 x — 8 9 1[[In-content Ad]]