No BP, no problem for Big Red
Steubenville gets the bats going to hand Huskies first loss
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CADIZ -- Fred Heatherington is in his 33rd season as the head coach of the Steubenville baseball program.
While this season is still relatively young, Heatherington learned yet another trait of his club on Thursday afternoon.
"We didn't take batting practice (Thursday), and maybe we shouldn't take it anymore," Heatherington said after watching his club pound out 13 hits and post an 8-2 victory against the previously undefeated Huskies at gorgeous, but chilly Mazeroski Field.
Big Red broke out the bats in a big way against a pair of Harrison pitchers. Even Steubenville's outs, which were put in play, were hit hard. That was pleasing for Heatherington.
"We got a lot of timely hits," Heatherington said. "We hit the ball hard."
While the eight runs and 13 hits sounds like a total offensive explosion, Big Red actually left some additional scoring chances on base. They left the bases loaded in both the first and seventh.
However, in the third, Steubenville broke through against Harrison Central starter Caleb Blawut. Senior J.T. Thompson ignited the rally when he reached on a two-base error. From there, Big Red didn't need any help from Harrison.
Steubenville strung together five consecutive singles, four of which resulted in runs. Senior Kyle Fleming, Cooper Blackburn and J.D. Ellis each ripped a single to the outfield. Ellis' hit drove in two runs.
Big Red tacked on a single run in the fifth, then Harrison Central finally broke through against Steubenville pitcher Lee Sewell.
Sewell, who worked five strong innings, issued back-to-back walks after a hitter was retired.
All-State junior Treston Nemeth, who is off to a torrid start to the season at the plate, narrowly missed a three-run home run, but settled for a double as the ball caromed off the fence. It brought home Kaden Jurosko, but Steubenville cut down Tre Rex at the plate.
Nemeth eventually scored after the lone Big Red error of the game.
"Give Steubenville credit because when a play needed to be made, they made it and we didn't," Harrison Central head coach Mike Valesko said. "When you look at the scoreboard and see the differential in the hits and errors, you have to feel pretty lucky to be as in the game as we were, honestly."
Any momentum Harrison Central may have created for itself was short-lived, however. Steubenville scored a pair of unearned runs and then, for good measure, added one in the seventh.
Edwards produced a three-hit game to lead Big Red. He had a double and singled home the final tally.
Harrison Central's offense was led by Nemeth, who produced yet another 3 for 3 effort at the plate. He walked in his other plate appearance.
Steubenville 8, Harrison Central 2
Steubenville 0-0-4 0-1-2 1 - 8 13 1
Harrison Central 0-0-0 0-2-0 0 - 2 4 4
STEUBENVILLE (3-1): Sewell WP (6K, 6BB), Manning (6) (2K, 2BB) and Smith. Smith 2S, Fleming 2S, RBI; Blackburn S, RBI; Edwards D, 2S, RBI; Ellis 2S, 3rbi; Sewell S, RBI.
HARRISON CENTRAL (5-1): Blawut LP (3K, 2BB), Jurosko (6) (3K, 1BB) and Nemeth. Nemeth 2S, D, RBI.