The Seymour baseball team got its bats going early, striking for four runs each in the first three innings to coast to a 12-2 five-inning win over Brownstown Central at American Legion Field on Monday afternoon.
“We’re getting a little better every time we come out,” Owls coach Jeremy Richey said. “They made some mistakes, and when we had guys on base, we got some big hits. Going back to last Tuesday (against Trinity Lutheran), we were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Tonight, we were so much better against a good opponent. I think we kind of knocked them back early, and we just started riding it a little bit.”
The Owls had eight hits, received four walks and had two hit batsmen while the Braves committed five errors.
Braves coach Brandon Tormoehlen said, “It was a case of inexperience. We had four infielders that this was their first varsity game. Seymour played the way you’re supposed to play. Give Jeremy and his boys credit.”
The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Jake Pauley led off with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cole Darlage.
Charlie Longmeier and Bret Perry had singles and Brayden Wilson walked to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning. Longmeier scored on a wild pitch, Perry scored on an error and Aiden Darlage doubled to drive in two runs.
The Owls loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by Perry in the second inning, and Vince Wilson came through with a two-run single.
Longmeier hit an RBI triple in the third inning.
The Braves managed back-to-back-to-back singles by Cole Darlage, Tiemeyer and Cristos McCormick to load the bases with no outs in the fourth, and Darlage scored on a sacrifice fly by Wyatt Steward.
Perry wound up three hits and scored three runs, Longmeier scored three runs with two hits and an RBI and Vince Wilson and Darlage had two RBI apiece.
McCormick was the only Brave to get two hits, although the Braves’ leadoff batters collected hits in four of the five innings. Pauley and Tiemeyer both reached first base safely twice.
“Aden Burnside threw another great game for us,” Richey said. “He kept us in the game, especially coming off that run in the first inning. We came right back and put some things together. We stung the ball a few times tonight.”
Burnside went four innings, allowed five hits, two runs, struck out one and walked one.
“I thought I was throwing the ball well,” Burnside said. “I had a great defense behind me. I knew if I could get them to put the ball in play, let them hit the ball, I knew my defense could make plays for me, so I just focused on throwing strikes.”
Richey thinks the big key for his team is not walking the opponent and playing well defensively. The Owls haven’t committed an error in the last two games, and Burnside and Treyton McCormick combined to walk only one Monday night.
As for the offensive side of the ball, aggression is key.
“I think that created some of their mistakes tonight because we’re quick and we take advantage of things, and we’re getting these kids to really play aggressive,” Richey said. “We were able to handle some balls at the plate because of that aggressiveness.”
This is the third-straight win for Seymour, as the Owls rolled over Lanesville 16-0 in five innings Saturday.
Cody Ruble pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and two walks.
The Owls had 13 hits with McCormick hitting a two-run homer in the first inning. Perry, Will Gray and Darlage all hit doubles, and Perry had two hits and three RBI.
Seymour (3-0) will host Columbus East on Thursday, and Brownstown (1-1) will be home to Orleans also on Thursday.
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At Seymour
Monday
Brownstown;100;01;—;2;6;5
Seymour;444;0x;—;12;8;0
Brownstown hits: Cristos McCormick 2, Jake Pauley, Cole Darlage, Kiernan Tiemeyer, Nathan Koch; runs: Pauley, Darlage; RBIs: Darlage, Wyatt Steward
Brownstown pitching: Ethan Davis 1.1 I, 6 H, 8 R, 3 K, 3 W; Braden Schult 2.2 I, 2 h, 4 R, 1 K, 1 W
Seymour hits: Bret Perry 3, Charlie Longmeier 2, Brayden Wilson, Vince Wilson, Aiden Darlage; 3B: Longmeier, 2B: B. Wilson, V. Wilson; runs: Longmeier 3, Perry 3, Jousen Rodriguez 3, V. Wilson, Treyton McCormick, Will Cottrill; RBIs: V. Wilson 2, Darlage 2, Longmeier, B. Wilson
Seymour pitching: Aden Burnside 4 I, 5 H, 2 R, 4 K, 0 W; McCormick 1 I, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K, 1 W
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