GREENVILLE – The Greenville Green Wave varsity baseball team battled back time and again Tuesday night, finally breaking through in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a 4-3 non-conference win over the Dayton Christian Warriors.
Greenville showed poise throughout the game, answering each Dayton Christian run with one of its own before freshman shortstop Drew Newland delivered the decisive blow. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, JiJi Jim worked a walk, and Newland followed by lacing a run-scoring double to center field to send the Green Wave home with the victory.
Greenville coach Chad Henry said the growth of the Wave’s younger players is becoming harder to overlook.
“We have been intentional about getting our younger players everyday reps and letting them develop, but guys like Brody, Johnny, and Drew are making themselves impossible to ignore – and that’s not even mentioning Shep’s fastball or Jack Klosterman raking on JV,” Henry said.
Dayton Christian took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring on an unearned run. Greenville answered in the bottom half when Michael Fox came around to score on a Gibson Steyer single to left, knotting the score at 1-1 after one inning.
Both teams were quiet in the second, but the Warriors scratched across another run at the top of the third with a two-out single and a double to move in front 2-1.
The Green Wave responded again in the bottom of the third. Michael Fox beat out an infield single, and Isaac Kerg reached on a fielder’s choice. Kerg then swiped second and third on back-to-back steals before scoring on a Steyer groundout to second, evening the score at 2-2.
Dayton Christian moved back in front at the top of the fifth, only to see Greenville answer once more in the bottom half. Kerg doubled to left with two outs, and Steyer followed with a game-tying triple to center to make it 3-3.
Henry praised Steyer’s approach and impact at the plate.
“Any mistake pitch to Gibby is getting hit hard somewhere,” Henry said of Steyer’s triple. “That triple tonight was barreled so hard the center fielder froze and didn’t have time to react. He’s one of five new starters in that he’s learning this level on the fly, but he’s also put in the work to become a nightly laser show at the plate.”
The biggest swing of the night belonged to Newland in the seventh. After JiJIJim drew a two-out walk, the freshman came through with a game-winning double.
“That’s a pretty euphoric moment,” Henry said of Newland’s winning hit. “I walked into the pregame yesterday and saw him hitting in the cage against a machine spitting BB’s. I remember thinking it looked a lot better than last week against Stebbins. Then he comes in as a defensive replacement in the sixth against a kid throwing in the high 80’s and one-hops the left field wall.”
Henry also credited his staff for helping Greenville continue to mature.
“Coach Beyke and Coach Claudy have put in a ton of work with the guys in preparation and how to carry ourselves as varsity athletes,” said Greenville head coach Chad Henry. “We’re really starting to see those results show up. We had several tough moments tonight where things didn’t go our way, but the guys didn’t break – they punched back with an answer and kept themselves in the driver’s seat all night.”
On the mound, Greenville got a steady effort from starting pitcher Johnathan Male and a strong finish from Jasenski. Male worked five innings, allowing four hits and two runs, only one earned, while striking out four and walking three. Jasenski earned the win in relief, giving up one hit and no runs over two innings while striking out three and walking one.
“This was Johnny’s third start at the varsity level, and he’s really finding his rhythm,” Henry said. “I think nerves and excitement got to him early in his first two starts, but he really bore down and threw strikes tonight. He also did a great job battling the running game.”
At the plate, Steyer led the Green Wave with three RBIs while going 2-for-3. JiJi Jim and Kerg sparked Greenville on the bases, helping the Wave pile up seven stolen bases in the win.
The Green Wave’s aggressive play, timely hitting, and resilience were enough to fend off Dayton Christian and cap the night with a memorable victory.
BOX SCORE:
000 000 0 R H E
101 010 0 3 5 2 Dayton Christian
101 011 X 4 8 2 Greenville
