Bellwood-Antis won their second straight game on the field at the Blue Devils’ Stadium Drive Field on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue Devils used a double steal to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third inning, and Brandon Beech slugged a bases-loaded to drive in two more before the inning was over to key a 7-2 Bellwood-Antis victory.
Bellwood-Antis took an early 2-0 advantage in their first at bat to get starting pitcher Earnie Kelley some help early.
Nate Gray was safe on an error to start the home half of the first, and Justin Manning walked. Kelley helped himself with a single that scored Gray, and Chad Coho broke out of a nine at-bat hitless streak with a single that scored Manning.
Kelley took command of the game early and except for his own error and a two-out home run by Anthony Williams, shut out the Marauders on five hits, striking out four and walking a season-high three batters to get the win.
Ryan Craig opened the third inning by getting on base on a throwing error by Kelley, and went all the way to third base. Tom Seasoltz scored Craig with a sacrifice fly and following a strikeout that would have been the final out of the inning, Williams unloaded a solo shot that carried over the center field fence to tie the score.
The Blue Devils made sure the game didn’t stay tied for long.
In the B-A third, Manning singled with one out. When Manning attempted to steal second base, the catcher’s throw went into the outfield and Manning wound up at third. Josh Kleinfelter walked and B-A coach Steve Conlon called for a double steal. Kleinfelter was safe at second and on the delayed steal, Manning scored to put B-A ahead 3-2. Kelley walked and L. J Seidel singled to load the bases. Beech drilled a shot to right center for a double that scored both Kleinfelter and Kelley.
An inning later, with two down, Manning singled to left and Kleinfelter crushed the ball over the 30-foot high left field fence for a two-run shot that settled the score at 7-2.
Bishop Guilfoyle got a runner on base following the Williams’ home run in the third, and had a runner on base in each of the final four innings, but Kelley and company never allowed a runner to reach second base. On two occasions, Kelley picked runners straying too far off the base. In the sixth inning, after Jim Sommer singled with one out, Chad Coho, at third base, started an inning-ending double play, throwing to Manning at second for one out, and Manning then fired to Seidel at first to complete the twin-killing.
“Form two games in a row now, the defense has been there,” explained Conlon. “Earnie pitched a great game. He probably didn’t have his best stuff today, but he managed to get through it. He limited the amount of walks, the defense made the plays, only one error today. Brandon and Josh came up big with the sticks, everybody hit the ball well today.”
The Blue Devils (2-6) play their third of four straight games at Mount Union today, with the first pitch set for 4:15 p.m.
Bellwood-Antis 7 Bishop Guilfoyle 2
Bishop Guilfoyle – Seasoltz, ss, 2-0-1; Sheedy, rf-3b, 3-0-1; Dunning, 3b, 0-0-0; A. Williams, 2b, 3-1-1; Sommers, 1b, 3-0-2; Lytle, 3b-p, 3-0-0; Perehenic, c, 3-0-0; Milliron, p, 2-0-0; Kuny, rf, 0-0-0; St. John, cf, 0-0-0; N. Williams, dh, 2-0-0; Nerebern, dh, 1-0-0; Craig, lf, 1-1-0. TOTALS 24-2-5.
Bellwood-Antis – Gray, ss, 4-1-1; Ju. Manning, 2b, 3-3-2; Kleinfelter, lf, 2-2-1; Kelley, p, 2-1-1; Seidel, 1b, 3-0-1; Coho, 3b, 3-0-1; A. Miller, pr, 0-0-0; Beech, cf, 3-0-1; Winterstein, c, 3-0-1; J. Miller, rf, 3-0-0. TOTALS 26-7-9.
Bishop Guilfoyle 002 000 0 – 2-5-3.
Bellwood-Antis 203 200 X – 7-9-1.
2B; Gray, Beech, Winterstein.
HR: A. Williams, Kleinfelter.
RBI: A. Williams, Seasoltz, Kleinfelter 2, Beech 2, Kelley, Coho.
SO: Milliron 4, Lytle 1, Kelley 4.
BB: Milliron 3, Kelley 2.
WP: Kelley LP: Milliron
