Sandusky rallies to top Western Reserve

SANDUSKY — Western Reserve struck first. Facing an undefeated Sandusky on the turf at Sports Force Parks, the Roughriders got a pair of big two-run triples. But, the Roughriders' offense struggled from there, falling 10-6 to the Blue Streaks on Wednesday. "We had good approaches in spurts," Western Reserve coach Josh Good said. "We let the counts get too deep on us before we were taking some of our swings. We wanted to take healthy hacks early in the count to see where we're at when they start mixing in some different pitches." Western Reserve (1-1) had a prime chance in the second inning, loading the bases with one out. Landyn Wiegel and Austin Kolb drew walks before Nolan Ryan reached on a bunt single. But Sandusky pitcher Mykell Ott bounced back with a strikeout and first-pitch flyout to keep the game scoreless. The 'Riders cashed in during the third inning though. Cooper Zunis and Blake Welch each walked before Wiegel tattooed a hit to center. Out in most high school parks, Wiegel finished with a standup two-run triple to get WR on the board. That wasn't the end for the Roughriders. Connor Harmeling walked before Kolb bounced into a fielder's choice as the Blue Streaks (5-0) tagged Wiegel out at home. It may have cost WR a bigger inning as Ryan smoked a two-run triple to the wall in right, scoring two runs to make it 4-0. "We've been taking a lot of healthy hacks off of machines in practices," Good said. "It was good to see some of our guys down in the bottom of the lineup that have had mechanical things we've adjusted have a big hit. They've been working on mechanics to get through the baseball." Sandusky finally got its offense going against WR pitcher Tyler Wood from there. The Blue Streaks answered with two runs in the bottom of the third on a Dennarius Walk two-run double. Sandusky added a single run in the fourth when Dante Shipp singled in a run. Although Ott was wildly effective, Western Reserve couldn't cash in. Sandusky grabbed full momentum in the fifth inning. Shipp made a full-scale diving catch in center and doubled a runner off of first to end the top half of the frame. The Blue Streaks carried that momentum into the bottom of the fifth. Ott walked before Walk singled. Each moved up a base on a steal before a bunt by Dillon Crawford scored a run. He reached safely on the play before Wood hit Keelan Lockhart to load the bases. That ended Wood's day with Cooper Roe on in relief. He was met rudely as Quentavion Fisher blasted a triple to right field, scoring three more runs to put Sandusky up 7-4. Fisher then scored on a groundout to give the Blue Streaks an 8-4 lead after five innings. "You build momentum and when you run into an out, it just halts the momentum offensively and defensively," Good said. "You have to have that moment to get that back, even when you go out on the mound. When we have an inning that's going great and it ends running into an out, you're thinking of those things as pitcher." Sandusky manufactured two runs in the sixth inning, which proved to be nice insurance as Western Reserve made a run at the deficit in the seventh. Welch and Wiegel walked before Harmeling reached on an error to score a run. WR executed a double steal to perfection as Harmeling took second and Wiegel scored. But, Walk, on in relief for Sandusky, got a strikeout and popout on the infield to end the game. Wood allowed seven runs on five hits and six walks in 4 1/3 innings. He threw almost 100 pitches. "Tyler was executing his pitches and hitting his location on what we were calling," Good said. "Late in the game, I think some of his fastballs were missing a little bit and he was getting behind in the count. Unfortunately, some of those were quality hits. "Then they had a couple of bloop hits drop and those can't drop." Like every team in the area, Western Reserve is struggling with the up and down weather that this time of the year brings in Ohio. "We've preached mental toughness and accountability from our guys all year long," Good said. "Seeing two inches of rain, it goes to your mind as a student sitting at a desk of are we doing an indoor practice? At this time of the year, inside practice gets redundant. We were able to go to a different location and play on turf. "I think our boys were ready for a little adversity." W. Reserve 004 000 2 — 6 3 1Sandusky 002 152 x — 10 7 1WP: Ott (1-0). LP: Wood2B: (S) Walk; 3B: (WR) Wiegel, Ryan; (S) Fisher.