Southeastern District Schedule

WB 13, Kings Fork 3 (5 inn)

KF scored one in the first with a bunt single by Mason Brown and a triple down the right field line.  WB answered with two in the bottom of the first, but blew the game open in the second. WB sent 13 men to the plate and scored 8 runs.  KF scored two in the fourth.  Blake Sergeant singled up the middle. After a line out and walk, Adam Griggs doubled home two runs. In the bottom of the fifth, WB's Rufus Hurdle homered to left center.  Ethan Alexander singled to left. Trent Jones was hit by a pitch, and Conner Epperly delivered a walk off single.  

Ethan Alexander was 4 for 4, and Rufus Hurdle was 2 for 2 with 2 BB. 

WB 3, Grassfield 1

Jay Patto threw a complete game four hitter, and faced two batters over the minimum thanks two double plays, including a game ending 1-6-3 DP.  Patto struck out three, hit one batter and walked none. 

WB scored one in the bottom of the first.  Connor Rhem walked to lead off the inning. Connor Butler singled to left, moving Rhem to second.  Tucker Shaver sacrificed him to third, and Rhem scored on a sacrifice pop up to shallow rightfield.

Grassfield tied the score in the next frame. T. Ogden reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error.

WB added another run in the third. With one out Connor Rhem reached second on a two base error, moved to third on a fly to deep center off the bat of Connor Butler and scored on a wild pitch.

WB scored their final run in the sixth. With two outs, Patto doubled to left, stole third and scored on a passed ball.

Connor Butler had two hits for WB as did shortstop Peterson for Grassfield.

WB 10, NR 0. (5 innings)

Oscar Smith has gotten off to a nice start.  They now have WB and GB back to back Friday/Monday.  That will give them a nice measure of where they are. 

They have been steadily improving for about 5 years and I wondered if this might be the year they jump up in class.  We might know in a week.

With the rain out last Friday, I believe WB plays three games in succession, weather permitting.  At Deep Creek on Tuesday, at home against Oscar Smith on Wednesday and against Hickory on Thursday.  Hickory, I believe, moved up its game against Lakeland to last Thursday and should avoid three successive games this week. 

WB 11, DC 1

OS 6, WB 3

Details to follow 

Tonight's Oscar Smith-Western Branch game had a little something for everyone including a passed ball strike out, three consecutive bunts, two line out double plays, a 1-3-2 pick off/caught stealing and a Oscar Smith win.

Oscar Smith struck first in the top half of the first. OS lead off hitter, T Council, struck out on four pitches but reached first on a passed ball.  After a ground out and a wild pitch, Jack Flanagan grounded to ss, scoring Council. John Everidge singled to right, stole second and scored on Logan Perry's single up the middle. 2-0 OS.

In the third, WB's Connor Epperly led off with a double to right.  Epperly stole third and scored on Phillip Gottlieb's single to left.  Jay Patto and Connor Rhem bunted safely, loading the bases. Connor Butler bunted down third, but OS third baseman J. Everidge fielded the bunt and forced Patto at home for the first out.  The next batter, Tucker Schaffer lined into an inning ending double play, 2-1 OS.

OS added two runs in the top half of the fifth.  Logan Lee led off with a single to left. Council bunted him to second, and N. Scianna singled up the middle, scoring Lee.  Flanagan singled to right, and Scianna scored on Everidge single to left.  4-1 OS.

In the fifth, WB's  Patto led off with a single to left center but was forced out on Rhem's grounder. Butler singled to left, and, after a fly out, Rhem scored on Rufus Hurdle's single. Ethan Alexander singled to right, scoring Butler and sending Hurdle to third base. A pinch runner ran for Alexander, the catcher, but was picked off first.  Hurdle broke for home and was tagged out, 1-3-2. 4-3 OS.

Oscar Smith added runs in the sixth and seventh innings. The sixth run came home on Brett Brennan's spinning cue shot that eluded WB's first baseman. 6-3 OS.

In the seventh, the lead off batter struck out, and Rhem and Butler reached base on consecutive walks.  Schaffer lined into a 3-6 double play, ending the game. 

WB's Ethan Alexander and Jay Patto had two hits a piece,  as did OS's Jack Flanagan, John Everidge, Logan Perry and Brett Brennan. 

Interesting sounding game.  Seems that OS has closed the gap but may have pitching depth issues since they were thumped by GB earlier in the week.  I'd guess with WB as a league game they went with their best last night.

Overall early season results indicate that GB and Hickory might be the best of the SED with OS, WB just behind them and IR, NR and GF as the next tier.  There doesn't seem to be a significant gap from top to bottom with any team having a clear edge.  Time will tell if that is because they are all really good - or just decent teams that have holes in them. 

Does anyone know when OS last beat WB in baseball?

I think it has been a long time.  I don't recall it happening in the last 10 years.  I think they knocked off GB once in that time as well about 3 years ago.

Heard Hickory WB game moved to Friday.

Hickory 7, Western Branch 3