BlueSox drop 14-3 decision in opener
It was a frustrating night on the mound, in the field and at the plate for the Butler BlueSox.
The consolation for manager Dan Helgert and his team is that it was only the first of 28 games.
The Sox opened the Tri-State Collegiate baseball season with a 14-3 loss in eight innings to the 3B Barons at Pullman Park Friday night.
“We’ve only been together for two practices,” Helgert said. “We’re fine ... I’m not worried about tonight.”
All three of Butler’s pitchers struggled, beginning with starter Trevor Wilson, who allowed three runs on five hits in three innings of work.
But the Barons, a new edition to the league, landed the biggest blow in the top of the fifth, plating six runs to take a 9-2 lead.
Reliever Brayden Hagerter began the inning on the mound, but two walks, two hit-batsmen and a wild pitch that allowed a run to score helped chase him from the mound. His defense also committed two errors behind him. Butler’s third pitcher, Trent Bielak, surrendered a two-run single to Nick Jacobs before getting out of the inning.
Butler’s trio on the mound combined to strike out eight and walk 11.
“We’re a young team with a lot of guys who were red-shirted (in college) this spring,” said Helgert. “Our pitchers are still getting their arms stretched out and we’re piecing things together right now.”
The Sox stranded 12 men on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the first and sixth.
Barons’ starter Jake Vitale got out of the first-inning jam by striking out Sean Connolly. The former earned the win with seven strikeouts and five walks. He allowed a pair of runs, both in the fourth inning, thanks to an RBI-single from Chase Vrabel and a run that scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Joey Woodrow.
“There were times tonight when I had trouble with my rhythm,” said Vitale. “But my teammates picked me up, both in the field and at the plate. It makes it easier to pitch when you get a lead.”
Brett Bobin and Shane Cato combined to pitch the final four innings for the Barons. Cato allowed Butler’s third and final run when Korey Shoupe’s sacrifice fly scored Kyle Kimoto in the bottom of the seventh.
Barons 102 063 02x — 14 11 0
BlueSox 000 200 10x — 3 8 4
W: Jake Vitale 4 IP (7K, 5BB). L: Trevor Wilson 3 IP (2K, 3BB)
Barons: Jake Anthony 2-1B 3R, Brady Hansen 2B 3R RBI, Conner Evans 3-1B 3R 2RBI
BlueSox: Quinn Burk 2-1B, Chase Vrabel 3-1B R RBI, Joey Woodrow 2B
Saturday: Barons at BlueSox
