DELPHOS – Weather has been the big winner this spring.
So when you finally have a chance to play a game, you jump at it.
Bath took advantage of the opportunity to play outdoors by posting a 5-1 non-league baseball win over Delphos St. John’s Wednesday at Stadium Park.
Bath is 5-6. St. John’s is 3-10.
“At this point, we’re champing at the bit to get outside and out of the gym,” Bath coach Brian Jesko said. “Game reps are more important to us than anything else. So playing non-league games like this, in preparation for what we have the rest of the week, is important.’’
Bath used four pitchers and they combined on a three-hitter.
The Wildcats also knocked out nine hits.
Leading the way was Bath freshman shortstop Lex Boedicker, who went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBI.
“He’s (Boedicker) a freshman and I think he’s getting acclimated to varsity pitching,” Jesko said. “He’s really been seeing the ball well.’’
Bath’s Isaiah Bolon went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Bath right-hander Chad Frey, who is scheduled to start today against Celina, started and went one inning. He gave up one run, on one hit. Over his 17 pitches, he struck out two and walked one.
Lefty Hunter Iiames earned the win by throwing the next three shutout, no-hit innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Iiames used mostly his fastball and threw 42 pitches, 30 for strikes.
“We were working the zone, hitting the outside corner,” Iiames said. “We didn’t work in many breaking balls, but when you’re painting the outside corner, it’s hard to hit. And when I threw them (the curves), they worked.’’
Bolon threw two shutout, one-hit innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Blake Goedde finished it up for Bath with a shutout, one-hit seventh inning.
“We were trying to get some guys a tune-up for the rest of week,” Jesko said. “We have league games tomorrow and Friday against Celina and Defiance.
“I thought all four guys threw the ball well. We wanted to get Chad some work, a little bullpen-like session. Hunter Iiames gave us three great innings and Isaiah and Blake closed it out.’’
Bath took a 1-0 lead in the first when Iaimes singled, stole second and came home on an RBI single by Bolon.
Blue Jays leadoff hitter Colin Will walked in the first and was bunted to second by Adam Gerker.
Troy Elwer’s RBI single tied the game at 1 in the home first.
Bath then scored two in the second. Devan Grigsby reached on a bunt single and Dylan Mohr singled to put runners at first and second.
Boedicker lined a two-run double into left-center field and Bath took the lead to stay 3-1.
Boedicker’s RBI single to left in the sixth made it 4-1.
Will Clark added an RBI single to center in the seventh to give Bath a 5-1 lead.
St. John’s starter Matthew Miller went six innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits. He struck out four and walked one. Miller threw 81 pitches, 56 for strikes.
Miller wasn’t supported well by his defense, as the Blue Jays made five errors.
“That was our biggest failure of the game was our defense tonight,” St. John’s coach Jerry Jackson said. “I’m proud of our pitchers. Matthew Miller threw six solid innings.’’
Overall, it was strong pitching day for Bath.
“Our guys have thrown the ball well (this year),” Jesko said. “Our record doesn’t reflect how well those guys have pitched for us.’’
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