Edison sweeps doubleheader over St. Paul

NORWALK — Just what was needed. After losing three of its last four games, the Edison baseball team exploded for 32 runs on 29 hits in a doubleheader sweep over host St. Paul on Saturday in non-league action at Norwalk Area Contractors Park. Edison improved to 5-3 overall with the two victories. The annual matchup between two of the area's more successful programs over the past seven years saw the Chargers limit the Flyers (2-6) to six runs on nine hits in the 12 innings. "I don't think it was as much of a change in approach as a change in focus and discipline," Edison coach Sean Hoover said. "We laid off borderline pitches early in the count and were able to put good swings on the other pitches. It was very good to see some of the bats that have been struggling come to life." The Chargers set the tone early with seven runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1. Clint Finnen reached on an error and scored on an RBI single from Carson Smith. Dominic Dymond and Max Hoover were both hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-0, then Davin Wendt followed with a two-run single to right field for a 5-0 lead. After Finnen walked, Smith capped the inning with a two-run single to make it 7-0. In the second, Dymond and Wendt singled in a pair of runs to make it 9-0. Finnen then had an RBI triple and Smith added another RBI single for an 11-0 lead. Once Bryson Wittmer had an RBI base hit, it was already 12-0 in the top of the second. Edison scored in the third in a fielding error, then back-to-back RBI hits — a single by Smith and a double by Hayden Fry — extended the lead to 16-0, and all doubt was removed. The Flyers did get five runs back in the bottom of the third, but the damage had been done. Luke Blum doubled and scored on an RBI triple by Ashton Stang, who then scored on an RBI single from Landon Fries. St. Paul then got an RBI double from Kole Maxwell and an RBI single from Drew Kuhnle for the third and fourth runs. Kuhnle later scored on a passed ball for the fifth run. On the mound, Smith went four innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. He struck out two and walked one. Abe Hermes pitched a scoreless hit and allowed one hit and a walk, but also struck out the side. The Chargers scored two runs each in the first, third and fourth innings of Game 2, but none of it was necessary for starting pitcher Aiden Drake. Drake allowed just one earned run on one hit — a triple by the Flyers' Stang in the fourth inning — with nine strikeouts and no walks. Stang scored on an RBI groundout by Landon Fries. Drake needed just 79 pitches with 59 strikes in the complete-game effort. "Aiden pitched a great game," Hoover said. "He has pitched well in relief for us, and his performance today helped set up our pitching rotation for next week." Meanwhile, a single and a double by Fry and Wittmer with two outs started things for Edison in the first inning. Marcus Medina walked to load the bases, and Dymond added an RBI single and Max Hoover walked with the bases loaded. In the third, Wittmer walked and scored on an RBI single by Medina, who then scored on yet another RBI single by Dymond. Dymond then drove in Medina for an RBI double in the fourth, and pinch runner Gabe Dymond scored on an RBI single by Max Hoover that made it 6-0. Leading 6-1, the Chargers again removed all doubt with five runs in the top of the seventh. C. Leimeister, Finnen and Smith hit consecutive RBI singles, and Fry was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 9-1. Medina hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Finnen, and Max Hoover walked with the bases loaded to cap the scoring. Both teams are in league play on Monday on the road. The Chargers visit Willard (3-3, 0-1), while the Flyers head to New London (3-2, 2-0). "Hopefully today gets us on the right track," Hoover said. "We've lost three games by a total of five runs. There is a lot of baseball yet to be played. We played two very good games against a good team today. "We need a little help to get back in the league race, but today was a step in the right direction." Game 1 Edison 754 32 — 21 17 1 St. Paul 005 00 — 5 8 4 WP: Smith; LP: Weaver 2B: (E) Hoover, Fry, Dymond, Wendt; (SP) Blum, Maxwell; 3B: (E) Finnen; (SP) Stang Game 2 Edison 202 200 5 — 11 12 2 St. Paul 000 100 0 — 1 1 1 WP: Drake; LP: Bocock 2B: (E) Dymond, Wittmer; 3B: (SP) Stang