Hamilton Southeastern improved its record to 2-0 on Tuesday with a 7-0 victory over Pendleton Heights at Ken Seitz Field.
Just like in their first game, the Royals got on the board in the second inning. Greyson Droste hit a lead-off double, then Jack DeWolf smacked a home run into center field. Just like that, Southeastern led 2-0.
The Royals added two more runs in the fourth inning. DeWolf was the lead-off man in that inning, and he got on with a line drive single to left field. Jake Huston came in to run for him, and he was sent to second base after Caden Ruhnow hit his own left field single. Later, both Huston and Ruhnow scored on a double from Jake Stout.
“I saw us in batting practice today,” said HSE coach Jeremy Sassanella. “We were a little anxious, we were a little jumpy.” The coach pointed out that his team didn’t get to play over the weekend, as a schedule game against Brownsburg on Friday and a doubleheader with McCutcheon on Saturday were all canceled due to the weather.
“I told the kids, I felt like they had to live up to 15 hits,” said Sassanella, referring to Southeastern’s offensive performance in its Thursday opener against Brownsburg. “But I will tell you, the thing I told them at the end was, we made enough adjustments. I kept talking about in-game adjustments. We had to stay back a little bit more and we were jumping a little bit. Fortunately we made enough adjustments over the course of the game to put up some runs and still were able to come out with a victory.”
DeWolf led off the sixth inning with another single. Tyler Rhoades came in to run for him, moving to second on a wild pitch and later scoring after Matt Iacobucci reached on error.
Huston came up next, and got on base after being hit by a pitch. That brought up Rhoades, who was now getting a turn at bat. Rhoades did his part at the plate, scoring Iacobucci on a sacrifice bunt. Matt Buckingham then came up and doubled home Huston.
DeWolf finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate. On the mound, Tyler Schweitzer pitched four innings for the win, giving up just one hit and striking out three. The Royals used three different pitchers in the final three innings, and each did their part, allowing the Arabians only two hits during that time.
“We were down in the zone and we were getting ahead,” said Sassanella. “And when you do those two things, you can be pretty effective. And we pitched ahead all night long.”
Southeastern’s Wednesday afternoon game against Fort Wayne South Side is canceled. The Royals are next scheduled to play Monday when they host Carmel, but are trying to pick up a game for this weekend. Details will be published once they become available.
Hamilton Southeastern 7, Pendleton Heights 0
Southeastern AB R H RBI
Matthew Buckingham 4 0 1 1
Jordan Millikan 3 0 1 0
Anthony Eggers 1 0 0 0
Cole DeWael 4 0 0 0
Brayton Harrison 2 0 1 0
Greyson Droste 3 1 1 0
Jack DeWolf 3 1 3 2
Caden Ruhnow 2 1 1 0
Matt Iacobucci 1 1 0 0
Cam Bolling 1 0 0 0
Jake Huston 0 2 0 0
Jake Stout 2 0 1 2
Tyler Rhoades 0 1 0 1
Totals 26 7 9 6
Score by innings
Pendleton Heights 000 000 0 – 0 3 3
Southeastern 020 203 x – 7 9 0
HR: DeWolf. 2B: Buckingham, Droste, Stout. SB: Bolling, Iacobucci, Millikan. SAC: Rhoades. HBP: Harrison, Huston.
Southeastern pitching IP R ER H
Tyler Schweitzer (W) 4 0 0 1
Griffin Lohman 1 0 0 1
Cole Graverson 1 0 0 0
Jacob Poore 1 0 0 1
Strikeouts: Schweitzer 3, Lohman 2, Graverson 2, Poore 1. Walks: Poore 1.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Caden Ruhnow (5) races for home during the fourth inning of the Royals’ Tuesday game with Pendleton Heights. Southeastern won 7-0 to improve to 2-0 for the season. In the background is Jake Stout (2). (Richie Hall)
Hamilton Southeastern’s Brayton Harrison (right, 12) prepares to make a catch during the Royals’ game with Pendleton Heights on Tuesday. Also pictured are Jordan Millikan (10) and Cole DeWael (background, 4). (Richie Hall)