Badger Baseball keeps on winning; Latest victory features home run, standout pitching, diving catches, double play, and more

April 6, 2016

Senior Caleb Gering blasted a two out , two-run home run in the top of the first inning, and Vince Bennett pitched a complete game two-hit shutout while striking out 12 opposiing batters in a 3 – 0 win over Lake City JV Tuesday night. In the first inning, Jesse Dunham reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced on a balk from the LCJV pitcher. Gering blasted a 2-2 pitch over the 330 foot mark in left field to give the Badgers the early lead. Later in the game, Kaleb Stockton reached on an infield single and later scored on Bennett’s triple to deep right center to make the score 3-0. Nick Sabin hit a line drive single to right center to round out the hit column. Bennett kept the LCJV batters off balance all game working his fastball and changeup to perfection. The only inning that LCJV threatened was in the 6th inning when they loaded the bases. Bennett got out of the jam with a strikeout and a line drive to shortstop to end the inning. Bennett has only given up one earned run in 19 innings this year while improving his record to 3-0. Even though the Badger bats were unusually quiet, the defense did their job supporting Bennett with some great defensive plays. In the bottom of the first inning with no outs and a runner on first, shortstop Jesse Dunham fielded a slow grounder on a full speed run and threw out the runner at first, noticing the baserunner who had been on first base trying to advance to third on the play, Caleb Gering quickly fired a strike to third to nail the runner for a double play. Center fielder Kaleb Stockton had a busy night making several nice catches, and Seth Bateman made the highlight reel by making a diving stop in the hole and throwing out the runner at first to end the inning. “Even when we are struggling with the bats, this group is still fun to watch on defense,” Coach Tom Turpin said. The win improves the Badgers record to 6-2 heading into a double header at Riverside High School this Thursday starting at 11:00 a.m. and Colville, Washington on Saturday starting at noon.