Following a tough week filled with pitching and fielding struggles and a fair share of mental errors, Woodstock’s Scott Krug knew his program would see better days.
Fortunately for the Wolverines’ skipper, he did not have to wait long.
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Brandon Michea | Ledger-News
Woodstock senior Kent Emanuel limited rival Creekview to just two hits and struck out 10 batters over five scoreless innings of work in a 10-0 Wolverines’ victory on March 9 in Canton. In three outings this season – two starts – Emanuel is 1-0 with one save and has allowed no runs on three hits, no walks and 18 strikeouts in 10 innings.
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Battling Class AAA No. 9 state-ranked Creekview, Woodstock pounded out 12 hits and got a masterful pitching performance out of senior ace Kent Emanuel en route to 10-0 in six innings over the Grizzlies, March 9 in Canton.
“We did a much better job of coming out and swinging the bats,” Krug said. “We were a little out in front of pitches early in the game, but then we stayed back, put the ball in play, got some key hits and took advantage of some of their miscues.”
Leading the offensive output, junior Zach Hitt finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI, while the lower half of the Wolverines’ order added to the damage. Combining to fill the No. 7 through 9 holes in the batting order, Connor Miller, Cole Watson, Carter Sangrey, David Mason and Jimmy Kelley totaled four hits, four runs, five RBI and three walks.
“A lot of guys got on base and got the job done. We had some good situational hitting throughout our lineup, and that’s what we need. We don’t always want to have to count on the same guys every night – everybody has to be able to come through.”
Despite being kept on a limited pitch count while he works his way back into pitching condition after spending the last four months on the basketball court, Emanuel went five shutout innings, allowing just two hits, striking out 10 and picking off one of just three Grizzlies to reach base against him.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” said Emanuel, who in three appearances this season is 1-0 with one save and has given no runs on three hits, no walks and 18 strikeouts in 10 innings. “All my pitches were working for me [March 9], but I still have room to improve and get back into it.”
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Brandon Michea | Ledger-News
Creekview’s Christian Van Camp had one of the Grizzlies three hits on March 9.
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“He’s really ahead of where we thought he’d be after playing basketball since October until two weeks ago,” Krug said. “That’s really a credit to him getting ready and the competitive fire that he has inside himself. He comes out ready to compete no matter what he’s doing.
“It’s good to see.”
Jakob Nixon, Christian Van Camp and Steven Whitaker had a hit each for the Grizzlies (3-3), who were coming off a 9-6 loss in 15 innings to Milton the previous night.
After stranding five runners in the first two innings, Woodstock (2-3) tacked three runs on the board in the top of the third.
Hitt got the ball rolling with a two-out, infield single. Miller followed with a two-base error and Watson drew a walk to load the bags, allowing Sangrey to pick up an RBI on walk and Mason to drive in Miller on a 15-foot chopped single down the third base line, as he beat out the throw to first by Creekview starter Dillon Mulkey. Watson then crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Wolverines added three more in the fourth.
Jacob Bruce led off with a triple and scored along with Tanner Skogen – courtesy running for Emanuel following a walk –on a two-run double by Hitt, who later came in to score on Watson’s RBI double to right.
While Emanuel continued to dominate, striking out the side in the bottom of the fourth and needing just nine pitches to do it again in the fifth, the Woodstock offense added its final touches in the top of the sixth with four more runs, highlighted by a pinch-hit, two-run single by Kelley.
Coming out of the bullpen, Durham Hamilton closed the door on the Grizzlies in the bottom half of the inning, inducing a double-play with two on and no outs, before getting Creekview to ground out to short for the final out of the contest.
“He went out, threw strikes and just let them put the ball in play,” said Krug of Hamilton’s performance. “He wasn’t trying to nibble on the corners or anything, and that’s what we need out of him and the rest of our guys – come in and throw strikes.”
