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Greencastle blanks Cascade 2-0
After a shaky start, GHS starting pitcher Ryan Battin settled down to hold the visiting Cadets scoreless and only allow three hits on the night. The Tiger Cubs rebounded from a tough loss Monday to defeat the Cadets 2-0 behind Battin's strong outing.
"We're a different team when he's pitching, but we need to be that same team when someone else is pitching. We just haven't got there yet," GHS head coach Troy Remsburg said.
Greencastle wasted little time getting on the scoreboard Tuesday, logging runs in the opening two innings. Andy Bell's drive to centerfield scored Battin in the first and a mishandled ball in the second inning allowed Nick Hutcheson to cross the plate to give GHS all the runs it would need on the night.
Battin began the night with five straight balls, but fell into a groove and kept the Cadets off balance. He had a scare in the fourth inning when Cascade loaded the bases with two outs. Battin steady himself, took aim and struck out Logan Yeager to close out the inning and preserve the lead.
Battin was aided by some great plays in the field. Centerfielder Hunter Mitchell got a workout on the night, with multiple shots being sent his way, but the senior was able to make the plays when his team needed them.
Greencastle fell to Cascade 13-1 Monday, so Tuesday's win was nice to have under their belt. Remsburg acknowledged Cascade's talent, but thought his team could have put a few more runs on the board.
"They're a very good team. You have to play to beat them. We hit the ball when we had to. We left some runners on tonight, which I would have liked to get those runs in, but I'll take it as I get them," he said.
The GHS head coach said he didn't know if his starter suffered from some nerves at the start, but thought he looked good in warm-ups. He noted Battin suffered another rough patch in the sixth and seventh innings, but was able to buckle down and finish the game strong. He said it was a good team win on the night.
GHS has experienced a kind of Jekyll and Hyde season so far. They're 4-1 at home and 0-4 on the road this season and Remsburg said they need to believe in each other to get things turned around.
"If I knew we'd fix it," Remsburg confessed. "It's just a mental thing with them right now. They need to trust our other three of four pitchers. They can pitch well enough to win games, we just have to play behind them."
Andy Bell was 1-for-3 for the Tiger Cubs with an RBI. Battin and Hutcheson were both 1-for-2 on the night. On the mound, Battin pitched six innings, allowing three hits and striking out seven.
Greencastle will be on the road Friday at Tri-West at 5 p.m.
At Greencastle
Cascade 000 000 0 -- 0 3 3
Greencastle 110 000 x 2 5 0
WP -- Battin
LP -- Blinn