Big start lifts Antioch past Wheeling
With the new BBCOR bats being introduced to high school baseball this season, runs are going to be harder to come by. According to Antioch coach Paul Petty, 2 or 3 runs is now considered a big inning.
So when Antioch put up 4 runs in the first inning, three of which came with two outs, it was more than enough for David Meade and the rest of the Sequoits as they earned a 5-0 win over host Wheeling in nonconference action Tuesday.
“I think with the bat change, the start of a game is really important,” Petty said. “Four runs feels like 8 runs.”
Mitch Everett (2-for-4) got Antioch started with a one-out double down the right-field line and was later brought home on a sacrifice fly by Matt DeJong.
With two out and nobody on, the Sequoits started all over as the next five men reached base. Adam Warner (2-for-4) started the outburst by launching a solo home run down the left field line.
That was all of the support Meade would need as the junior right-hander went the distance, striking out 10 Wildcats while walking just two and improving his record to 2-0 on the season.
“When you’re on the road and you score first, it’s got to feel pretty good for our pitcher when he trots out there,” Petty said.
And when he wasn’t setting the Wildcats down on his own, Meade got plenty of help from his defense.
Everett made a diving catch in centerfield in the first inning and Warner made a terrific play on a slow roller in the second as the Sequoits played error-free baseball a day after losing to McHenry 2-0 when not allowing any hits.
“I made some adjustments and just got the job done,” Meade said. “The defense played great out there.”
Wheeling starting pitcher Angelo Deblasio settled down nicely after the rough first inning. The right-hander allowed only 3 hits in the next four innings and wound up picking all three runners off of first.
“If there’s one way we could describe him, it’s as a competitor,” said Wheeling coach Matt Padron of Deblasio. “Even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he’s going to come out and battle. As the game goes on, he seems to get stronger.”
Kalvin Thong doubled for Wheeling while Brendan Spillane and Michael Yoshino each reached base twice.