BlueSox outslug East Butler, 21-13
EAST BUTLER — Batting practice never really ended Tuesday night at Speed-O Field.
The Butler BlueSox and the East Butler Bulldogs just started keeping track of the score.
The teams combined to push across 34 runs and totaled 41 base hits in Rust Belt League baseball action, but the visiting BlueSox never trailed in a 21-13 victory. Butler’s Ethan Edkins bashed a pair of 350-plus-foot home runs and Trent Bielak added another — albeit against East Butler’s Marco Vesce and Conner McTighe, neither of whom are regular hurlers.
Those homers were what BlueSox (13-10) manager Dan Helgert enjoyed the most out of the offensive display, as he said, “Seeing the home runs and just seeing guys pounding the ball, I think we struck out one time today. It’s good just to see the offense getting hot. Seeing some deep balls, that was nice.”
Early on, East Butler (9-14) starter Zach Thompson retired the BlueSox’ first two batters before the next six reached base, tacking on four runs in the top of the first inning. They added another five in the one that followed, manufacturing a sizable lead.
The Bulldogs fought back from the possibility of a mercy rule on a few occasions, though.
“Last week, we played a 19-18 game against Meadville,” East Butler manager Greg Folk said. “We score runs, it’s what we do. … We don’t have that much pitching and other teams do.
“We’ll get there. We’ve got pitching for the playoffs. I’m resting my arms.”
Vesce, McTighe, and Evan Kircher all threw in relief. Help is on the way when it will matter most, Folk said. Cameron Haynes, Jack Baumgartel, Evan Del Signore, and Shane Thompson will be available come playoff time.
Folk also admired his team’s mindset of never quitting.
“This is a first-year team,” he said. “I’m proud of them. They’re a scrappy team.”
The BlueSox will hope to keep their momentum at the plate, which Helgert said has been building up recently. The team batted around in the second inning and finished up the night with an impressive 23 knocks.
“Today was our biggest output, but every game, we’re getting better quality ABs,” he said. “We’re starting to mesh.”
It’s very possible that the two teams clash again soon, this time in the postseason. East Butler could wind up being the bottom seed in the bracket and the BlueSox the top.
“I believe if we win out, we’ll win the division,” Helgert said. “We play the (3B) Barons on Saturday, and I think it’s going to come down to that game.”
BlueSox 453 220 140 — 21 23 2
Bulldogs 013 222 030 — 13 18 3
W: Alex Heavener 6IP (4K, 5BB). L: Zach Thompson 4IP (0K, 4BB).
BlueSox (13-10): Zach Johnston 2B RBI R, Chase Vrabel 1B 2RBI R, Seth Helgert 2-1B RBI 3R, Joey Woodrow 4-1B, Brayden Hageter 4R, Ethan Edkins 2HR 1B 3RBI 4R, Quinn Burke 3-1B 2RBI 4R, Trent Bielak HR 1B 4RBI R, Dustin Horne 1B 2RBI, Justin Branigan 2B 2-1B 2RBI R, Ben Aftanas 2B 1B 2R
Bulldogs (9-14): Marco Vesce 2B 2-1B 3R, Evan Kircher 1B 2R, Conner McTighe 2B 1B 2RBI R, Tommaso Floro 1B 2RBI R, Brandon Koroly 1B RBI R, Chris Mullins 2B 1B RBI 2R, Nicco Melograne 2-1B R, Payton Folk 3-1B 2RBI 2R
