St. Paul wins wild run-rule game

NORWALK — What a difference a day makes. Even that may be an understatement when describing Tuesday's victory by the St. Paul baseball team. The Flyers allowed 10 runs to visiting St. Mary Central Catholic — yet still won the game in a mercy rule in just five innings. St. Paul scored 20 runs on 16 hits, drew nine walks and had an additional seven base runners who were hit by a pitch in the 20-10 win at Contractors Park in Norwalk. The game was just one day removed from a frustrating 1-0 loss on Monday at Hopewell-Loudon. In that game, the Flyers (2-1) had just three hits, and only allowed one hit — which didn't even plate the game's only run. St. Paul also won its season opener in a 3-0 shutout at Port Clinton on March 27. "It's an interesting dynamic," St. Paul head coach Aaron Fries said. "I told our guys halfway through the fourth inning (today), we were already done playing by that time in our first two games." The Panthers were scheduled to open SBC River Division play on Wednesday, also at Hopewell-Loudon. And with the Flyers playing for a third time in four days, Tuesday's game was a simple issue of pitching depth. "This is typical Division IV, small-school baseball," Fries said. "If the schedule holds, we'll play six games in seven days and eight games in 11 days. This is what can happen when you get a little down in your pitching depth, especially at a smaller school where your numbers aren't as high. I think that's what this was today." SMCC took a 4-2 lead through the middle of the third, only to see the Flyers respond with a four-run bottom half for a 6-4 lead. The big hit came with the bases loaded when Drew Kuhnle singled to left, scoring a pair of runs. But the Panthers responded in a big way themselves in the top of the fourth. Three straight singles off Eli Fisher loaded the bases with nobody out. After a sacrifice fly cut the deficit to 6-5, SMCC got a single and a triple to score three more runs for an 8-6 lead. After a pitching change from Fisher to Luke Blum, the Panthers got one more base hit to score two more runs for a 10-6 advantage. But from there, it was all St. Paul. In the fourth, Kuhnle walked with the bases loaded to score one run. Then Adam Baker was hit by a pitch and and Fisher walked, both with the bases still loaded for two more runs and a 10-9 deficit. Kole Maxwell then grounded out to short, but that was able to score Kuhnle to tie the game at 10, then Baker scored on a wild pitch for an 11-10 advantage. Tyler Perkins followed with a double that scored Fisher to put the Flyers ahead 12-10 through four innings. Blum worked around a single on the mound for a scoreless top of the fifth, then the Flyers put the game away with eight runs. Thomas Bocock started things off with a single, then Kuhnle walked. Baker delivered a bunt single that scored Bocock on an errant throw past first base that went down the right field line. Fisher was hit by a pitch, which set up a two-run triple by Scotty Adelman for a 15-10 lead. Jaycob Stanley singled in Adelman and Perkins for two more. Kuhnle came up to bat again in the inning with the bases loaded, where he delivered a single to center that scored two more runs. Leading 19-10, Baker singled to left to score Bocock and end the game. "Obviously it's nice to win a game like this, but I just think we had more pitching than they did," Fries said. "We gave up 10 runs and our defense was a mixed bag, but Luke came in and did a nice job relieving Eli — and that's what this game came down to. We had a little more pitching than they did. "You have to find someone who is throwing strikes and putting the ball in play, and we did that just a little bit better than they did today." Kuhnle and Bocock led the hit parade. Kuhnle was 3 for 3 with six RBIs and scored twice, while Bocock finished 4 for 4 with an RBI and five runs scored. Baker was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and scored twice, while Adelman was 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs. Also for the Flyers, Perkins doubled and drove in a run, Fisher walked twice with the bases loaded for two RBIs and scored twice, and Stanley had an RBI hit, was hit by a pitch three times and scored three times. St. Paul is scheduled to host Tiffin Calvert on Wednesday, then has a doubleheader on Saturday at Sycamore Mohawk. The Flyers are scheduled to open Firelands Conference play on April 5 vs. Monroeville. With their two ace pitchers on the mound — Perkins and Adelman — the Flyers allowed one run on three hits with 19 strikeouts and four walks. "(Monday's game) I think is more typical of what you'll see out of our team," Fries said. "We have the pitching to do that, and the difference between today and (Monday) shows you that. When you have guys scuffling trying to find their way, you get a 20-10 score. "But anytime you can beat St. Mary, it's a good win," he added. "It's nice to beat them and to get out of here in our home opener with a victory. Do I take much from it? Not really. I thought we learned a lot about ourselves on Monday, but today was just nice to get the bats going and get kids some confidence. Other than that, I don't take much from it." SMCC 202 60 — 10 13 0 St. Paul 024 68 — 20 16 1 WP: Blum; LP: Hamilton 2B: (SP) Perkins; 3B: (SP) Adelman; (SM) Whaley