By: Daniel Cooley
PIONEER – Edon scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take what seemed to be a comfortable 9-4 lead.
That was until North Central’s Connor Gendron’s three-run home run over the center field fence cut Edon’s lead to 9-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
But Edon pitcher Christian Owens induced a pop out and a groundout to end the inning.
North Central had one more chance in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sam Moore singled with one out and Clayton Douglass then laced a deep ball to center field.
The Edon centerfielder nearly made a great catch, but was unable to hang onto the ball, putting North Central runners on first and second.
There was a long deliberation by the three umpires to determine whether the Edon fielder had held onto the ball, and it was ruled he did not.
“With the two guys on, I just knew I needed to bear down and let my defense help me get the final two outs,” Owens said.
“Getting the strikeout next was huge and then I threw the final batter a fastball and he could only hit the ball softly, (to our shortstop).”
The Edon defender then threw to the Edon second baseman for the force out to end the game.
“It was finally great to see our bats come alive,” said Edon coach Brien Moore. “(Pitcher) Christian (Owens) has battled hard all year for us and it was nice for him to get the win.”
“Our overall record is not good, but this win puts us in good position in the Buckeye Border Conference, at 2-1.”
Owens picked up the complete game win. Although he allowed 11 hits and eight runs while walking six, he also got big strikeouts when he needed them, with a game high nine strikeouts.
Edon jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning, scoring a pair of runs in the first and second innings and one more in the third.
Kyler Sapp knocked in two of the runs and scored on a balk. Garrett Skiles and Wyatt Moore also knocked in runs.
North Central tallied three runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut Edon’s lead to 5-3. Kenneth Smeltzer knocked in a run and Gendron knocked in two runs.
Each team scored a run in the fourth inning, bringing the score to 6-4. Owens knocked in a run for Edon and Smeltzer knocked in another run for North Central.
Edon then seemingly broke the game open in the top of the sixth inning. Skiles and Owens knocked in runs and Sapp scored on a wild pitch.
“It’s really hard to have to dig back, trailing (twice) by five runs,” said North Central coach Joshua Hicks.
“I liked the way we came back, but we keep giving up way too many free passes (walks) and too many runs that way.”
As a case in point, North Central’s pitchers surrendered six walks and five of those runners ended up scoring.
In hitting leaders, Sapp led Edon with three hits, including two doubles and two RBIs. Skiles had two hits, including a double and had two RBIs.
Gendron led North Central with a double, home run and five RBIs. Sam Moore hit two singles and Smeltzer had three hits, including a double and three RBIs.
Ethan Beard took the pitching loss for North Central. In pitching the first three innings, he gave up five runs on five hits, with two strikeouts and three walks.
EDON 221 103 0 – 9 8 2
N. CENTRAL 003 104 0 – 8 10 3
Records: Edon 2-7 (2-1 BBC), N. Central 5-2 (2-1 BBC)
WINNING PITCHER: Owens (7 innings, 8 runs, 8 earned, 10 hits, 9 strikeouts, 5 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: Beard (3 innings, 5 runs, 4 earned, 5 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks) Other: Moore
LEADING HITTERS: (Edon) Skiles – double, single, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Sapp – 2 doubles, single, 2 RBIs, 2 runs (NC) Gendron – home run, double, 5 RBIs; Burt – double, 2 runs; Smeltzer – double, 2 singles, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Turner – double; Moore – 2 singles
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
