FAIRBORN – The Greenville Green Wave varsity baseball team erased an early four-run deficit and rallied for a 9-5 non-conference win over the Bellefontaine Chieftains Tuesday night at Wright State University’s Nischwitz Stadium.
Bellefontaine came out swinging in the top of the first inning, jumping in front 4-0 after Cayleb Overmann doubled home two runs, Aven Caudill added an RBI single, and Nicholas Beair drove in another run with a ground out.
“I think the average exit velocity in the first inning was around 90 mph,” said Greenville coach Chad Henry. “They stung everything Drew threw at them, and it would’ve been really easy to get rattled. Instead, he came off the mound into the huddle and told us exactly how he wanted to attack them. Credit to Drew, Isaac Kerg, and Coach Beyke – they held them to just one more run the rest of the game.”
Rather than fold after the rough start, Greenville answered immediately with a five-run bottom of the first inning to seize momentum and a 5-4 lead.
Chilly Jasenski and Isaac Kerg opened the frame with walks before moving into scoring position on a wild pitch. Gibson Steyer brought home Greenville’s first run with a groundout to second base. Michael Fox followed with an RBI single to right field.
After Braylon Byers walked and Ethan Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Troy Lavy lined a run-scoring single to center field. JiJi Jim added another RBI on a fielder’s choice, and Jones capped the inning by stealing home for Greenville’s fifth run.
“To our credit, we didn’t come all the way to play at a great facility and not show up,” Henry said. “Their starter had trouble throwing strikes, and our guys stayed very disciplined in the box by not expanding the zone. They took what was given and delivered a great response.”
The Green Wave continued to add on in the second inning. Kerg singled and later scored when Jones was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, extending Greenville’s advantage to 6-4.
Greenville added another run in the third inning when Kerg delivered an RBI single to center field for a 7-4 lead.
Bellefontaine managed a run later in the game, but Greenville answered with two more runs to close out the scoring and secure the 9-5 victory.
“Such a great program on the other side of the field,” Henry said. “The kids on both teams battled every at-bat. Every inning except the fifth had runners in scoring position. We had both Layden and Chilly warmed up in the bullpen, but Drew kept coming back with big pitches to get himself out of trouble.”
Freshman Drew Newland earned the complete-game win for Greenville, highlighted by a four-pitch sixth inning. Newland allowed 11 hits and five runs over seven innings while striking out one and walking one.
Bellefontaine starter Nicholas Beair took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on four hits over three innings while striking out three and walking five.
Jones, Jim, Jasenski, Kerg, Lavy, Steyer, and Fox each drove in a run for Greenville. Kerg paced the Green Wave offense, going 2-for-2 at the plate while also drawing two walks as Greenville showed patience throughout the night, collecting nine walks as a team.
Henry also praised Greenville Athletic Director Aaron Shaffer, along with both school administrations, for helping organize the neutral-site matchup at Wright State University.
“I met coach Mosbarger several years ago in travel ball, and I always admired the way he worked with kids and made it fun for his players,” Henry said. “Because it’s not easy to get in a non-con, we suggested playing at a neutral site – and that brought us here today. Credit to both administrations and Aaron Shaffer for working to make this happen for the kids.”
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
400 010 0 5 11 5 Bellefontaine
511 020 X 9 6 1 Greenville
