By JOSH FRYE
News Sports Writer
Landon Mura struck out 13 batters, and Tucker Spence singled, tripled and scored twice as J.U. Blacksher’s varsity baseball team topped its rival, the Excel Panthers, 7-4 on March 5.
“I am very proud of my guys for continuing to work and for staying positive,” head coach Justin Mixon said. “We have played a lot of close games and we are still learning how to compete as a team.”
Mura, a right-hander, pitched 6 innings, using his curveball allowing only 4 walks, 4 hits and 2 runs.
“Mura pitched great for us,” said Mixon. “I am really proud of him for stepping up and giving a max effort to lead our team.”
Mixon said the win was a team effort, and statistics backed him up. While Spence, who also pitched the last inning, led the team at the plate, he wasn’t a one-man show.
Michael Redditt had 2 singles and walked once; Jayce Sells had 2 singles, drove in a run and scored a run, and Mura had a single, was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
Damon Rolin had a single and a sacrifice bunt, was hit by a pitch and scored a run; Peyton Wilkins had a two-run single; Dawson Hollinger was hit by pitch, scored a run and drove in a run; Will Brown had a single and scored a run, and Talan Daughtry scored a run.
“Each player in the lineup had production in some capacity at the plate, and hopefully this game will give us some confidence moving forward,” Mixon said.
The Bulldog J.V. team came up short against the Panthers, registering a 5-3 loss.
Jackson Reid pitched 4 innings for Blacksher. He registered 2 strikeouts, didn’t walk a batter, and gave up 7 hits and 5 runs as the team committed 4 errors behind him.
Eli Smith and Josh Burkett, who also had an RBI and drew a walk, each had a single to lead the JV offense. Hudson Brown had a walk and scored a run; J.R. House was hit by a pitch, walked and scored a run; Jake Coker had a walk and was hit by a pitch; Andrew Clausell and Joseph Gleeson each had a walk and an RBI, and Colbie English was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
Blacksher will host Excel at J.U. Blacksher this Friday, March 15. The JV team will take the field at 4 p.m., followed by varsity action at 6 p.m.