MORGANTOWN – Through four games, the word “explosive” was not an adjective used to describe the University High School baseball team and its offense.
The Hawks were hitting just over .240 as a team and coming off a 3-0 shutout at the hands of Parkersburg South.
On Friday, UHS head coach Brad Comport decided to shake things up. He made several changes to his lineup and the result was evident immediately as UHS picked up a 6-2 victory over visiting Musselman.
“We came in today and shook things up a little bit,” Comport said. “This was our brand of baseball. We really wanted more offensive production and we were specifically looking to score first and add on. I thought our guys responded really well.”
After starting pitcher Cody Thomas struck out two in the top of the first inning, the Hawks (2-3) responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. New leadoff hitter Brodee Latocha worked a nine-pitch walk and then Gabe Templeton reached base when he was hit by a pitch. Then the table was set for No. 4 hitter Aaron Forbes who delivered with an RBI single to left field and Noah Braham added an RBI groundout for a 2-0 UHS lead.
“We had some really good at bats,” Comport said. “It was good to see some guys find some gaps and we were able to score runs today, which is definitely what we were trying to do.”
Once that UHS offense came to life early, Thomas did his part on the mound. He allowed just two runs in 6.1 innings of work with six strikeouts and scattered six hits. Both runs he surrendered were unearned.
“Cody was a competitor,” Comport said. “He just went after hitters, and he was even a little angry there at the end when we had to lift him. That’s just the type of kid he is – he wants the baseball, and he attacks the zone and we played great defense behind him.”
Musselman did cut the UHS lead to 2-1 in the second inning, but the Hawks answered back with one run in the fourth as Braham hit a double to right field that rattled the Shilling Field fence and Jake Croston followed with a double of his own over the centerfielder’s head for a 3-1 lead.
The Hawks added three more runs in the fifth as Wenkai Campbell had an RBI single, Braham had an RBI single and Croston added his second RBI double of the contest.
For Croston, it was his first multi-hit game of the season. Comport said he was happy to see his designated hitter/catcher break out of an early season slump.
“Jake is a great hitter,” Comport said. “He knows that he is a great hitter, and it was good to see him barrel up a couple of baseball today.”
The big day at the play for Croston was much needed as he serves as protection for Forbes and Braham in the heart of the UHS order.
“I made my stance wider, and I didn’t think about striding,” Croston said. “I got out of my head, I just listened to music on the car ride here and didn’t think about anything. I wanted to take my head out of it.”
The offensive output for UHS was a welcome sight for Comport who said he knew coming into the season that his team might struggle with pitching, but he was hopeful the offense would be good.
“I think we are still trying to find our identity,” Comport said. “We are still trying to mix and match lineups and see what is going to give us the best chance of offensive output. I think today was a good mix. The results spoke for themselves.”
For the game, Croston and Braham each added two hits with two RBI while Forbes and Campbell added one hit each with one RBI. Latocha also recorded two hits including a double. Thomas picked up the win for UHS while Chase George faced two batters and recorded a strikeout.
UHS continues its season on Tuesday when it hosts Hampshire for a doubleheader that begins at 4:30 p.m.
By ERIC HERTER
Musselman 010 000 1 – 2 6 0
University 200 130 X – 6 8 2
Musselman
Lore 4 0 2 0, Hartman 3 1 1 0, Myers 4 0 0 0, Miller 3 0 0 0, Boor 4 0 0 0, Shockey 2 1 2 0, Boyles 3 0 1 1, Stevens 3 0 0 0, Moberly 2 0 0 0, Wolfe 1 0 0 0. Totals 29 2 6 1.
University (2-3)
Latocha 3 2 2 0, Templeton 2 1 0 0, Campbell 3 1 1 1, Forbes 3 1 1 1, Braham 3 1 2 2, Croston 3 0 2 2, Thomas 3 0 0 0, Jansen 2 0 0 0, Walters 2 0 0 0, McDonough 1 0 0 0. Totals: 25 6 8 6.
2B – Muss: Shockey. UHS: Braham, Latocha, Croston 2.
WP – Thomas 6.1ip 6 h 2r 0er 3BB, 6K
LP – Stevens 4.1ip, 7h 6r 6er 1BB 2K
