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Chesterfield leads Bulldogs past Wolverines
DUGGER -- Union (Dugger) senior Logan Chesterfield fanned 13 White River Valley batters in his seven innings of work, as the Bulldogs came away with a 10-3 Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference win in high school baseball action here Wednesday.
"My arm felt good today," the senior hurler said. "The wind was blowing in my favor and that really helped with the movement in my pitches as well. This was a good win and will hopefully give us a confidence boost."
Chesterfield proved that he do more than just pitch, as he drove in four runs at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort offensively to power the Bulldogs' nine-hit attack.
"We do not have the luxury of having someone designate hit for our pitchers like some other clubs do so it was great to have Logan strikeout 13 batters and also get three hits at the plate tonight," Union (Dugger) coach Clarence Johnson said.
Chesterfield recorded two punchouts in every inning with the exception of the third. He scattered five hits, walked one and hit a batter and all three runs he allowed were unearned.
After battery mate, B.J. Howard led off the home half of the first inning off with a bloop double down the right field line, Chesterfield plated Howard with a single. Two straight errors by the Wolverines defense would allow the Bulldogs (2-1, 1-1 SWIAC) to strike for two more runs, as they led 3-0 after one inning of play.
"The first inning it looked like we hadn't been on the field in a while," WRV head coach Mike Karr said. "We were just a little too indecisive on plays."
The Wolverines (1-3, 0-2 SWIAC) actually have not been able to practice on their own field since March 28, as they have made renovations to their field.
Wolverine starting pitcher, Jeremy Roberts settled into a groove after the first inning, as he pitched four consecutive scoreless frames.
After a Bulldog error in the top of the sixth with two outs ended the shutout for Chesterfield, Levi Hostetter hit a fly ball into a swirling wind in right field, which landed for a two-run double to knot the contest at three apiece.
Dustin Howard led off the home half of the sixth inning off with a single to right field. Gerran Wilkes followed with a ringing double off the right center field fence to set runners up at second and third with no one out. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, then a pop-out, Wesley Marshall registered a two-run bloop single to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 advantage. Three batters later, Chesterfield smacked a bases clearing double to all but put the game away.
The Wolverines went 1-2-3, with two Chesterfield punchouts to end the game in the seventh inning.
"I was very pleased with the way the kids responded there in the sixth inning after giving up the lead in the top half," Johnson said. "We set the tone with being aggressive at the plate early in the game, then kind of hit a wall in the middle innings, but they stuck with it."
Karr lauded the performance of Chesterfield and the Bulldogs.
"He (Chesterfield) was in complete control of his pitches tonight," the second year head coach said. "He had good command, but I was disappointed in the way we let some good pitches go by.
"Right now they are a better team than we are. But I wouldn't trade my group of kids for anything. Our goal is get ready to be playing our best ball by the sectional. We just need to get on the field and practice."
Roberts, was the pitcher of record for the Wolverines. He was responsible for all 10 Bulldog runs, only five earned runs. The senior walked three batters and also fanned three hitters. Nate Bushy relieved Roberts in the sixth inning and recorded the final two outs.
Trey Sparks finished with two hits to pace the Wolverines offense.
Wilkes had added a two-run single to go along with his two-bagger, while Jacob Todd added a single in the win for the Bulldogs.
Union (Dugger) will travel to North Knox for a non-conference tilt Friday, while the Wolverines will travel to Mitchell the same night.
White River Valley 000 003 0 -- 3 5 3
Union (Dugger) 300 007 x -- 10 9 2
Roberts, Bushy (6) and Karr; Chesterfield and B.J. Howard. W -- Chesterfield. L -- Roberts. 2B -- Hostetter (W), B.J. Howard (U), Chesterfield (U) 2, Wilkes (U).