Mura whiffs 18 as JUB’s Bulldogs top rival Excel
By JOSH FRYE
News Sports Writer
Senior Landon Mura wrote a new chapter in J.U. Blacksher school history March 15, striking out 18 batters to help lead the Bulldogs past rival Excel High.
“Simply put, this was the best game that I have ever seen pitched, by anyone,” JUB Coach Justin Mixon said after the 4-1 win. “To say that I am proud of Landon would be an understatement. He took the mound and put his team on his back.”
Mura, a right-hander, pitched a complete game, using his curveball and fastball in allowing just 2 hits, walking only one batter and giving up 1 run. His strikeout total broke the previous school record of 15.
Mixon said the win was a team effort, and the team statistics backed him up.
Sophomore Damon Rolin has been swinging the bat at a consistent rate over the last few games for the Bulldogs. Against Excel, Rolin registered 2 singles and scored a run.
However, he wasn’t a one-man show at the plate.
Sophomores Talen Daughtry and Peyton Wilkins came through with big clutch hits. Daughtry singled in 2 runs and scored once; Wilkins singled in a run.
Mura walked twice; Tucker Spence walked twice and scored a run; Michael Redditt chipped in with a sacrifice fly. Will Brown contributed a single; Jayce Sells had a sacrifice bunt and Dawson Hollinger singled and scored a run.
“The entire team did an outstanding job of competing,” Mixon said. “Every player added some significant impact during the game. I am very proud of our entire team and the effort that they have been putting in.”
The varsity squad wasn’t the only JUB team finding glory on the field against Excel.
Blacksher’s junior varsity completed the sweep, outlasting the rival Panthers for a 12-11 win.
Josh Burkett, who started on the mound for the Bulldogs, struck out 2, walked 3 and allowed 4 runs. Right-hander Joseph Gleeson replaced him after two innings and pitched three innings, striking out 3, walking one, and giving up 8 hits and 4 runs as the team made 5 errors behind him.
The Bulldogs however, picked up steam later and began to close ground on the Panthers.
“The guys played a close game and found a way to battle from behind to generate the win,” Mixon said. “The guys showed a ton of toughness and played through their mistakes. They never got down on themselves but rather picked themselves up and found a way to victory.”
Andrew Clausell had a single, was hit by a pitch and scored a run; Eli Smith had a single and a double, was hit by a pitch and scored 4 runs; Hudson Brown singled and scored a run; Burkett had a pair of singles, drove in a run and scored two runs.
Gleeson drove in a run and was hit by a pitch; Jackson Reid registered a single and a double, drove in a pair of runs and scored once; Conner Blackburn was hit by a pitch and scored once, and Daniel Kirchharr was hit by a pitch and scored a pair of runs.