With 10 Major League Baseball scouts in the stands to watch one pitcher, the Grafton Clippers put on a show offensively, routing New Kent in five innings.
Zach Lechthaler drove in seven runs to lead Grafton to the 12-2 home victory over New Kent, which was shortened to five innings per the Virginia High School League’s rule that ends a game if one team leads 10 or more runs after both teams have batted in the fifth inning or later.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning, Lechthaler stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run base hit. One batter later, Jacob McAllister also smacked a two-run single putting the Clippers up 4-0 heading into the second inning.
Grafton senior pitcher Evan Sperling, who drew the flock of MLB scouts, struggled briefly in the top of the second inning as New Kent’s Tyler Jenkins pulled a pitch down the left field line to drive in two runs in the bottom of the second.
The hit cut the Clippers’ lead in half, putting the score at 4-2, but the Trojans’ momentum was fleeting.
The bottom of the second inning started with Collin Estes reaching first base after being plunked by a pitch. From there, eight consecutive Grafton batters reached base on singles, walks and a lone double from McAllister. Grafton drove in five runs during the inning before Estes hit an infield popup.
By the time the dust had settled after two innings, the Clippers held a commanding 9-2 lead.
“We scored in the first and then New Kent came back and scored two runs, and at that point it was a dogfight,” Grafton coach Matt Lewellen said. “We had some guys step up and have some good at-bats. We got on base with some walks. Zach [Lechthaler] had a big hit. We swung the ball well.”
It appeared as if New Kent was poised to close the gap with two outs in the top of the third inning after Sperling loaded the bases with three consecutive walks. The University of Virginia commit composed himself and recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
Grafton’s final runs came in the bottom of the third inning as Lechthaler came up big again, this time clearing the bases on a long double to left-center field.
Lechthaler’s last at-bat gave Grafton a 12-2 lead, which the Clippers maintained through the last 1 1/2 innings.
Sperling finished the game with six strikeouts and two earned runs over four innings. Justin Bowers replaced Sperling to pitch the final inning of the game.
The win moves Grafton to 2-1 on the season with the Clippers’ next game set for 4:30 p.m. Friday at Smithfield.
New Kent: 020;00 — 2 4 2
Grafton: 453;0x — 12 8 0
WP: Evan Sperling
LP: Pierce
New Kent: Jenkins (1-2, 2 RBI)
Grafton: Zach Lechthaler (3-3, 7 RBI), Jacob McAllister (2-3, 3 RBI)
Evan Lowery’s three RBI, which included a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning, were not enough to help lead the Jamestown baseball team to victory during Tuesday’s home game against Smithfield.
After Lowery’s homer in the third inning, Cameron Mays drove in Kent Kylman. After a Christopher Jones walk, Lowery smacked a two-run base hit up the middle of the field to extend Jamestown’s lead to 4-0.
Jamestown (2-1) coach Michael Kuebler said of combination of mental errors and timely hitting allowed Smithfield to win the game.
Smithfield scored two runs in the fifth and sixth innings off Jamestown errors in each inning. A successful sacrifice bunt helped Smithfield take the lead in the top of the sixth inning.
Jamestown will play at 6:30 p.m. Friday at home against Lafayette.
Smithfield: 000;044;0 — 8 7 3
Jamestown: 001;310;0 — 5 7 5
WP: Carr
LP: Brad Vandygriff
Smithfield: Polack (1-4, RBI), Weaver (1-3, RBI)
Jamestown: Lowery (2-4, 3 RBI), Mays (3-3, RBI)
