Northmor’s Drew Hammond pitched a complete game one-hitter in his team’s Tuesday win over Mount Gilead.
A second strong pitching performance in as many days led Northmor’s baseball team to a 5-0 win at Mount Gilead Tuesday evening.
Drew Hammond held the Indians to one hit in a game that saw MG also commit four errors to detract from their own strong showing on the mound.
“Drew did a good job,” said Northmor coach Buck Workman. “I don’t think he had his best stuff. He didn’t command the curve ball like he normally does, but he got it settled down after the first inning and the defense played well behind him. i think he ended up with quite a few strikeouts, mainly just fastballs.”
After MG starter Hayden Pangborn pitched around a single by Bohdi Workman, the Indians had the potential to score in their half of the first. With two outs, Gage Baker was hit by a pitch and Nick Garvey followed with a single. However, Marshall was able to get the third out with runners on first and third.
Over the rest of the game, the Indians were only able to advance one runner past first base. MG coach Mark Kennon felt that a lack of timely hitting along with those errors put his team in a bad position to try to get the win.
“We had runners in scoring position again,” he said. “We just need those key hits and didn’t get them. We had runners in scoring position and, that one inning, just had two careless errors. That’s baseball It was a good game and we played them tight. We played them tight at their place last night. It was 2-0 and (Grant) Bentley threw a no-hitter, but had a couple walks and we had runners in scoring position. We’re not getting those key hits. It’s baseball and it’s early, so hopefully it fixes itself.”
The teams remained deadlocked with no runs on the scoreboard until the fourth. Hammond opened the inning with a double and Trevor Brubaker was then hit by a pitch to put two on. With one out, Pangborn hit his second batter of the inning in Garrett Harvey to load the bases. He would then get a strikeout to get one out away from escaping the inning with no harm done, but Bryce Cooper would deliver on an infield single to put the Golden Knights in front.
Workman noted that his team needs to manufacture runs due to not having a lot of power.
“We’re not a real big hitting team,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll put up 15 runs a game, so we’ve got to get those walks, get those hit batters and move those runners and do the little things and try to get the runs in. It’s not like we’re going to set up here and hit three-run homers after three-run homer. It’s just not how we’re built.”
The Indians were able to threaten in the fifth inning after Cameron Vickers reached on an error and was able to advance to third on a Graham Sherbourne sacrifice bunt and a Carter Kennon grounder. Cole Fricke was then walked to put runners on the corners with two outs, but Marshall was able to induce a ground ball to end the inning.
Northmor then got some insurance in the sixth. With two outs, Nick Armrose picked up an infield single. Indian errors on grounders hit by Cooper and Cole Cuffman then resulted in a pair of runs that gave the Golden Knights a three-run lead.
They would get two more runs off Vickers in the seventh inning. After Brubaker was walked to lead off the inning, the Indians committed an error on a pick-off attempt, allowing him to advance to third.
Brubaker would then score on a single by Harvey, who would also score on a groundout by Caiden Martinez a bit later.
Those five runs were more than enough for Hammond, who finished with 12 strikeouts and three walks one night after Bentley’s no-hitter.
“Obviously when you get these games spread out like they are, you only have to throw your top two or three guys,” said Workman. “We haven’t got into the rest of the rotation yet, but we have some other guys we feel comfortable with as well; we just haven’t needed them yet. The guys who have gone out there — Grant and Drew and Trevor — have done a really good job.”
For the Indians, Pangborn pitched six innings of four-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one. Kennon noted that he’s gotten some strong pitching from youngsters in the early stages of the season, which has helped keep them in games.
“Pangborn’s a sophomore and last night, we threw Cole Fricke, who’s a freshman,” he said. “Our pitchers are young and they’re learning right now. We’ve got to just keep pushing along. It’s a long season still.”
Rob Hamilton can be reached at 419-946-3010, ext. 1807. Connect with him on Twitter at @SportsMCS
