Truckers split doubleheader vs. Lexington

NORWALK — The ability for it to be "one of those days" was there from the start. In a doubleheader that combined for 32 runs on 47 hits in 14 innings — which lasted five hours — on a windy afternoon, the Norwalk baseball team didn't come away empty handed. The Truckers rallied twice in Game 1 against visiting Lexington for a 9-7 win, then the Minutemen scored six runs over the final three innings of a 12-6 win in Game 2 for the non-conference split at Norwalk High School. "We're sitting at 3-2, with losses to Lexington and Ontario, which are good programs that are always strong," Norwalk coach Wes Douglas said. "You always want to win them both, but it's nice to come away with at least a split. "We have Clyde and Perkins (on Monday and Wednesday) next and have our pitching lined up for it. We got through it today with our pitching and at least got one, so we feel pretty good about it." In Game 1, Lexington grabbed an early 2-0 lead on a home run, but the Truckers immediately responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Sam Battles led off with a triple, then scored on an RBI groundout by Eli Obringer. Nate Adelman followed with a single, and Ian Minor walked. Caleb Sommers put down a bunt and reached on an error at first base, which allowed Adelman to score and Minor to advance to third. With Thomas Gfell batting, Minor then swiped home on a successful double-steal for a 3-2 lead. Lexington (3-3) tacked on one more in the top of the second, but Norwalk again answered as Andrew Bundschuh singled and later scored on a two-out RBI single by Obringer for a 4-3 lead. Minor walked and scored on a Lexington error off a fly ball hit by Bundschuh for a 5-3 lead through three. Isaac Scheel then singled in Minor for a 6-3 lead in the fourth. Meanwhile, Norwalk junior starter Jesse Cole put up three straight scoreless innings on the mound. But defense and the Minutemen putting the ball in play proved costly to the Truckers in the top of the sixth. An error followed by three straight singles gave Lexington a four-run inning — and a 7-6 lead. But again, as they did in an 8-7 loss vs. Ontario on March 27, the Truckers came right back with a late rally in the bottom half of the sixth. Battles reached second base on a two-base error, then Obringer immediately followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 7-7. Adelman drew a walk after Obringer had advanced to second and third on consecutive passed balls for runners at the corners with no outs. Minor hit a sacrifice fly to center that put the Truckers back ahead, as both Obringer and Adelman were able to score on the relay throw in for a 9-7 lead. Lexington brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Sommers fielded a ground ball and tossed to second for the force out to end the game. "We get down 2-0 right away and came back with three because we were aggressive on the bases and forced them into mistakes, which was good to see," Douglas said. "When we made those errors and they got the lead, we came right back and got it again." Obringer was 2 for 4 and drove in three runs in the first game for Norwalk. Minor singled, walked twice, drove in a pair and scored three runs, while Scheel also had two hits. Making his first varsity start, Cole went the distance. He allowed seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts and one walk. He threw 99 pitches (64 strikes) and was ahead in the count most of the game, as he threw 21 first-pitch strikes to the 31 batters he faced. "Jesse is a little bulldog for a 130-pound young man who threw almost 100 pitches," Douglas said. "Real happy with him today, and he caught the second game, so just a real versatile kid for us." In Game 2, Lex opened with a run in the top of the first off Buddy Baker. In the bottom of the first, Minor doubled in Adelman, who had walked. Sommers then singled in Minor to give the Truckers a 2-1 lead. The Minutemen tied the game in the top of the second off an error. A solo home run and an RBI single in the third put them ahead 4-2. Adelman doubled in the bottom of the third and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Scheel for a 4-3 deficit, only to see Lex score two more in the top of the fourth for a 6-3 lead. Lex then broke the game open with a four-run top of the fifth for a commanding 10-3 lead. The Truckers got three runs back, including in the bottom of the fifth when Obringer singled and scored on a double by Adelman, who then scored on a double by Minor to make it 10-5. Battles singled and came around to score on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth, but Lexington added two runs in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring. "The top of the order was real solid at the plate, but the bottom of the order, we have to put the ball in play a little better if we're going to beat good teams with good pitchers," Douglas said. "We have to do a better job of getting bunts down. We didn't do a great job of that today. Other than that one inning (in the first game), our defense was pretty clean, and we got some bottom of the rotation guys some work today. "They did walk a few, but I like how they competed. They will do a better job out there the next time we need them, which is probably next Saturday," he added. After five games in the first seven days, the Truckers are scheduled to play five times in six days in the coming week. Norwalk will host Clyde on Monday and Perkins on Wednesday in SBC Lake Division games. It will travel to Willard on Friday in a non-league game before rounding out the week with a doubleheader at Medina Buckeye on Saturday. The Truckers will play Keystone first before taking on host Buckeye. Douglas noted that after a year without any baseball, the Truckers have already played four scrimmages and five regular season games — all in a 17-day stretch by April 3. The weather forecast is also encouraging for the week ahead. "And we were able to get in a lot of outdoor practices, too," he said. "So we got to these guys in nine game situations already and are finding out some things. We know what we're getting out of some guys, but we're still tweaking with the bottom of the lineup a little bit. "We're trying to find a little more depth on the mound, because we're looking to play five games in six days against some quality teams," he added. "We're still trying to build some depth. These younger guys are still a little nervous and haven't played a ton of varsity, so anytime you can get your feet wet, it will help us the rest of this year and for next year as well. "So it was good to get all these games in. Every time we get out on the field, they learn a little bit more from me, and I learn a little more about them." Game 1 Lexington 210 004 0 — 7 10 6 Norwalk 311 013 x — 9 9 2 WP: Cole LP: Grimm 2B: (L) Burks; 3B: (N) Battles; HR: (L) Carter Game 2 Lexington 112 240 2 — 12 15 1 Norwalk 201 021 0 — 6 13 2 WP: Burks; LP: Baker 2B: (L) Hamilton; (N) Adelman 2, Minor 2, Malson; HR: (L) Carter