After a week off, the Guerin Catholic baseball team was back in action Wednesday.
The Golden Eagles hosted Pendleton Heights in a game that was moved to Grand Park. It was back and forth until the bottom of the second inning, when Guerin Catholic poured in seven runs. That would carry the Golden Eagles to a 9-3 victory.
Guerin Catholic was happy to get a game in, as coach Rich Andriole was aware that other teams haven’t been able to thanks to the contrary weather in Indiana over the past few weeks.
“You try to get into a rhythm early, but this weather’s been tough on every single team, definitely in the area and probably statewide,” said Andriole. “I had a friend call me and said he lost five games here at the beginning of the year, so we’re all in the same boat. We’re just trying to get into a rhythm.”
The Arabians scored the first run of the game in the top of the first, after which Guerin Catholic answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Keenan Taylor got GC on the board on a fielder’s choice from Owen Hargrave; Taylor hit a triple to get on base.
“I thought early we were a little shaky, a little rusty,” said Andriole. “We hadn’t played in a week.”
A sacrifice fly moved Pendleton ahead 2-1 in the top of the second, but the Golden Eagles quickly took control of the game with seven runs in the bottom of that inning. It started with Bennett Ely scoring on an error to tie the game.
That was during Taylor’s second at-bat of the game, and he walked to load the bases. On the next play, Guerin scored two, with Sam Joyal and Brendan Downey getting home after Hargrave reached on error.
Taylor and Hargrave scored soon after, this after Luke Godfrey reached on error. Another error would send Jake Andriole home, with Ely reaching first. Godfrey scored the final run of the inning; he was batted in by a Nick Bingman single.
“I thought we got better as the game went on,” said Andriole. “Our pitching was really good as the game went on.”
The Golden Eagles scored an additional run in the fifth inning, with Bingman getting home on an error.
Hargrave finished the game 2-for-4, and also had a stolen base to his credit. On the mound, Max Engelking got the win, pitching three innings with four strikeouts. Matt Parenteau pitched the middle innings and also tossed four strikeouts.
Guerin Catholic is now 2-0 for the season. The Golden Eagles were to play in the Catholic Classic this weekend at Lafayette Central Catholic, but the event was canceled due to field conditions after the rainy weather. Guerin Catholic’s next game will be Tuesday when it hosts Bishop Chatard in a Circle City Conference game.
Guerin Catholic 9, Pendleton Heights 3
Guerin AB R H RBI
Keenan Taylor 3 2 1 0
Owen Hargrave 4 1 2 1
Jake Andriole 4 1 0 0
Luke Godfrey 3 1 0 0
Bennett Ely 4 1 1 0
Nate Bingman 2 1 1 1
Sam Joyal 1 1 0 0
Max Engelking 2 0 0 0
Tristan George 1 0 0 0
Brendan Downey 2 1 1 0
Matt Parenteau 0 0 0 0
Totals 26 9 6 2
Score by innings
Pendleton 110 001 0 – 3 3 8
Guerin 170 010 x – 9 6 0
3B: Taylor. SB: Hargrave. HBP: Godfrey.
Guerin pitching IP R ER H
Engelking (W) 3 2 2 2
Parenteau 3 1 1 1
Downey 1 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Engelking 4, Parenteau 4, Downey 1. Walks: Engelking 2, Downey 1.
Guerin Catholic’s Owen Hargrave went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Golden Eagles in their Wednesday win over Pendleton Heights in a game at Grand Park. Guerin Catholic is 2-0 for the season. (Richie Hall)