Westfield bounced back from a tough Tuesday loss by dominating its Hoosier Crossroads Conference opener on Wednesday.
The Shamrocks beat Franklin Central 12-1 in a five-inning game at Grand Park. The Flashes scored one run in the top of the first, but it was all Westfield after that.
Tyler Smitherman batted in the first runs for the ‘Rocks, on a two-RBI single that scored Trey Anderson (who doubled) and Bryce Dorton. Kyle Pepiot was up next, and he doubled in Smitherman, making the score 3-1.
Westfield would have to wait until the bottom of the fifth to score again, but it would be worth it. Dorton started everything with a double to get Luke Hutson and Payton Tamm in. Zach Collins then cracked a double into left field to score Anderson. That brought up Smitherman, and his center field triple got Dorton and Jack Lawrence (running for Collins) home.
Pepiot singled Smitherman in to put the ‘Rocks up 9-1. Westfield eventually loaded the bases, and Anderson finished the game with a three-run double, his second of the game. Pepiot, Austin Wessel and Tamm all scored.
“We rebounded well from a disappointing day yesterday,” said Shamrocks coach Ryan Bunnell. “We cleaned up some of the little things that hurt us against Castle. So that progress was nice to see. We are a work in progress, we will get a little better each day as we learn how to execute the little things that win games better. There is potential in this team, we just have to progress daily. It’s a good group of kids, so I have a lot of faith in their ability to develop like they will need to. Parker Bard has a nice outing for us today. Trey Anderson had a big day, as did Bryce Dorton, Tyler Smitherman and Kyle Pepiot.”
Anderson was 3-for-3 at the plate, batting in three runs. Smitherman also drove in three runs; he, Dorton and Pepiot all had two hits. Parker Bard pitched all five innings, striking out six.
Westfield is 1-1 and will play at Franklin Central this afternoon to complete the HCC series.
Westfield 12, Franklin Central 1
(5 innings)
Westfield AB R H RBI
Payton Tamm 3 2 0 0
Trey Anderson 3 2 3 3
Bryce Dorton 3 2 2 2
Zach Collins 3 0 1 1
Tyler Smitherman 3 2 2 3
Kyle Pepiot 3 1 2 2
Eli Patchett 3 0 0 0
Quentin Markle 2 0 0 0
Austin Wessel 0 1 0 0
Luke Hutson 3 1 1 0
Jack Lawrence 0 1 0 0
Totals 26 12 11 11
Score by innings
Franklin Central 100 00 – 1 4 1
Westfield 300 09 – 12 11 1
3B: Smitherman. 2B: Anderson 2, Collins, Dorton, Pepiot. SB: Anderson, Dorton, Pepiot.
Westfield pitching IP R ER H
Parker Bard 5 1 1 4
Strikeouts: Bard 6. Walks: Bard 3.