UTICA — An hourlong wait for the start of the game did nothing to slow down the Utica High School baseball team Tuesday.
The Redskins jumped on Eastmoor Academy for five runs in the first inning, then rode the strong pitching of Joe Wheeler to a 10-0 victory in the Division II Central District Sectional Tournament game played at Utica.
“A win in the first tournament game is good any time,” said Utica head coach Bren Henderson.
A bus issue for Eastmoor (5-9) forced the start of the game to be delayed for an hour. But, the Utica bats needed no time to warm up, as the Redskins (22-5) got the first five batters on base on three walks and two hits. Wheeler had the big hit of the inning, smacking a single that plated Travis Dassylva and Michael Sandman. Sandman had forced in a run with a bases loaded walk the batter prior. Rob Shaw added a sacrifice fly to plate Wheeler with the Redskins’ fifth run of the inning.
“It’s tough to hit the slower pitches, but we did a good job. We just have to get disciplined at the plate and get after it, which we did,” said Henderson.
Wheeler was in control from the outset, getting two strikeouts in the first inning. Aaris Payne was the only Warriors batter to have Wheeler’s number as Payne smacked two singles on the day, including one in the first inning.
Wheeler’s only trouble came in the fourth as Payne smacked a single, then stole second. Payne was then caught stealing by Redskin catcher Jesse Hughes to stop the early threat, but Bryan Booker got on via a single with two outs. A balk moved him to second and an error sent him to third. The Redskins got out of the jam when Charles Nallie, the batter who reached on the error, was caught trying to stretch it to second base.
The Redskin hurler finished the night allowing just four hits, while striking out nine in the five inning-game. Three of those Warriors were caught looking at the third strike.
“Joe was outstanding. He was very sharp tonight. He gave us what we needed,” said Henderson. “He was super, super. He did a great job.”
The Redskins got their offense going again early in the second inning, as the first three batters reached base. Dassylva smacked a double down the left-field line to lead off the inning, then scored on a double by Sandman. An error by the Eastmoor right fielder helped the Redskins score their second run of the inning. But, Warrior pitcher Mike Slyker was able to coax three flyouts to end the threat.
Utica added one more in the third on a single by Jared Ours and a double from Dassylva, then put the game away with two in the fifth inning. Joe Metzger led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored on another double by Dassylva. Sandman then put the game away with a run-scoring single.
Dassylva finished the night with three doubles and two RBI to lead the Redskins. Sandman added a double, single and two RBI, while Ours and Shaw both had a single and double. Metzger, Wheeler, Hughes and Shane Williamson all had hits for the Redskins.
Eastmoor managed just four hits against Wheeler, two of which came from Slyker.
The No. 3 seeded Redskins will now advance to play No. 4 seed Bishop Watterson on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Watterson.
