badin 3, Ross 1
Badin clamps down in Ram-off
Defensive execution sets tone in Badin's victory over rival Ross
Sunday, April 06, 2008
HAMILTON — The Badin High School baseball team made several outstanding defensive plays Saturday afternoon, April 5, while Ross failed to make a couple of routine ones.
And that, essentially, was the difference as the Badin Rams defeated the visiting Ross Rams 3-1 at Alumni Field.
Extras
Get latest headlines via RSS feeds"I preach that to them all the time, that defense can be consistent," Badin coach Rick Kunkel said after watching his team win its third consecutive game to improve to 3-1.
"You may struggle at the plate from time to time, but the defense can always be there," Kunkel continued. "It just makes a big difference when you don't give them anything."
Not only did the Badin defenders not give Ross (2-1) anything, they also took a few things away.
Second baseman Nate Jackson made a great diving stop to rob Derek Bischoff of a hit to end the first inning. And Jackson made an even better play in the third to start a 4-6-3 double play.
"We probably have the best pitching staff we've ever had, and we know they're going to throw strikes," Jackson said. "As fielders, we just have to make sure we're ready to go. We just need to make the basic plays, and then the spectacular plays will come with it."
First baseman Zach Toerner got in on the defensive wizardry as well, making a diving stop to rob Randy Bulach of a hit in the second inning.
"(Badin) played outstanding defense," Ross coach Jason Rettinger said. "They did a few things that we were unable to do."
Badin gave pitcher Dave Chaney, who was making his season debut, an early cushion with a run in the first inning on a two-out wild pitch and a run in the second that was set up by a throwing error.
Chaney walked four batters, but thanks to the sparkling defense, he only allowed one run in 31/3 innings to earn the win. Dan Strittholt pitched 22/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four and walking just one, and Brett McKinney threw a 1-2-3 seventh to nail down the nonleague victory.
"We take every game serious, whether it's a league game or not," Jackson said. "We definitely want to beat the local teams just for that Butler County pride factor."
Scott Staarmann and Garrett Seger each had RBI singles for Badin, and Corey Van Natta added a double and a run scored. Nate Hubbard and Eric Gerbus also scored.
Ross got its lone run in the third when Chris Gaston singled home Travis Gamble.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193
or jmorrison@coxohio.com.
