Sports Editor

GOSHEN – Goshen pitcher Wesley Wright struck out 11 Red Level batters in his first start of the season and the Eagles picked up the win, 9-5, over their Class 2A area rivals on Wednesday.

It was only Goshen’s second game of the season, which had several earlier games cancelled due to winter weather conditions. The Eagles improved to 1-1 with the victory after falling to Ariton 8-7 on Feb. 28.

"This is a tough situation for us…to start area play this early in the season," said GHS head coach Chad Dube. "I thought Wesley pitched really well for his first start, but to be honest, I think his control was a little off. But that’s too be expected."

The junior faced 24 batters and allowed four hits in the game before Averick Rogers came in for the seventh and final inning. Rogers gave up three hits to the Tigers and the visitors scored four runs. But with two RLHS base runners still on, the game, which started at 3:30 p.m. and ended a little after 6 p.m., was called due to low visibility. The Goshen baseball field does not have outside lighting.

Goshen took advantage of four Red Level errors to score five runs in the bottom of the third. Clarence Bean reached on a fielder’s choice and would score, as would Chad Sanders and Wright. Rogers got on courtesy of an error and Marcus Scott was hit by a pitch. Both players came home, giving Goshen a 6-0 lead going into the fourth inning.

The Eagles had just two hits in the game – a single RBI by Jason Burgans in the fourth and a hit by Wright in the bottom of the sixth.

"We’re showing a real lack of focus and discipline at the plate," said Dube. "There were several times where we were up on the count 2-0 and then we’d swing at the next pitch that came by. We had a hard time getting anything going."

Goshen would add three more runs in its half of the fourth as Matt Johnson touched home plate on a pass ball and Wright drove home one runner with an infield hit. Burgans would score Sanders from second also in the inning.

Goshen plays at Pike County today. First pitch will be thrown out at 3:30 p.m.