University easily won its first game at Class 2A Sectional 43 at Park Tudor Wednesday night, sweeping past Speedway 11-1.
The Sparkplugs scored their run in the second inning, but the Trailblazers took over in the top of the fourth by putting up three runs. Owen Schellhase singled in the first run, then Jake Hooker put University in front with a two-run single. Brady Redman doubled in a run in the sixth inning, then scored on Sam Woodward’s RBI groundout.
The ‘Blazers ran away in the seventh inning, scoring six runs. Weber Morse drove in three runs with his second double of the game, then Woodward doubled in two runs. Hooker scored Woodward with his own double. Earlier in the inning, Mark Hamby got on base by hitting – guess what? – a double.
Hooker had three hits for the game, with Redman scoring three runs. Grayson Knight went five and two-thirds innings for the win, striking out 10 and allowing only three hits. Seth Hogg and Thomas Price both pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief, neither one gave up a hit.
University improved to 19-7 with the victory. The Trailblazers advance to the sectional semi-finals, and will play the first game Monday morning at 10 a.m. University will take on Covenant Christian, which beat host Park Tudor 7-5 in eight innings.
The other semi-finals features Monrovia and Cascade, and is set to start at 12:30 p.m. The semi-final winners will play for the championship at 7 p.m.
UNIVERSITY 11, SPEEDWAY 1
University AB R H RBI
Jake Hooker 5 0 3 3
Jasper Owens 4 0 0 0
Gabe Mervis 1 0 0 0
Thomas Price 3 0 2 0
Mark Hamby 4 0 2 0
Seth Hogg 4 0 0 0
Owen Schellhase 3 2 1 1
Weber Morse 4 2 2 3
Brady Redman 3 3 2 1
Sam Woodward 3 1 1 3
Cooper Burnett 0 2 0 0
Zane Kampmeier 0 1 0 0
Totals 34 11 13 11
Score by Innings
University 000 302 6 – 11 13 1
Speedway 010 000 0 – 1 3 1
2B: Morse 2, Hamby, Hooker, Redman, Woodward. SB: Redman, Schellhase. HBP: Schellhase.
University pitching IP R ER H
Grayson Knight (W) 5.2 1 1 3
Hogg 0.2 0 0 0
Price 0.2 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Knight 10, Price 2, Hogg 1. Walks: Knight 4, Price 1.