Goshen uses big first inning to stun playoff-bound Higland Home
Published 8:51 am Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Just a few days remain in Goshen’s 2013 baseball season, but don’t tell the Eagles that.
The Eagles plated eight runs in the first inning against Highland Home, en route to a 15-8 rout of the playoff-bound Flying Squadron.
Goshen came to the dugout in the bottom of the first trailing 3-0, and quickly went to work.
Grant Hughes and Tyler Phillips reached on bloop singles, and Carlton Bean took first on a walk.
The clean up batter, Bryant Stephens, delivered a laser shot single to left-center field, scoring Hughes and Phillips.
Later in the inning, Joey Faulkner singled in two more runs for Goshen.
In total, the Eagles sent 11 men to the plate in the first, and scored eight runs.
“We finally got some bloop hits to go our for a change,” said Goshen head coach Robby Kinsaul. “We hit the ball well today, and anytime you can get some runs in the first, it helps.”
Stephens led the Eagles both offensively and defensively in the upset win.
At the plate, Stephens finished 2-2 with a triple and six RBIs. He reached base in five of his six plate appearances.
On the mound, Stephens got the win after going three innings, striking out three batters and scattering five hits.
“It was a really big day for him, especially as a sophomore,” said Kinsaul. “Hopefully it will propel him in to the summer. I feel that he will do some good things for Goshen baseball in his time here.”
After making the playoffs in the last two seasons, bad timing and bad luck will keep Goshen at home during the post-season, but the team is “playing for pride” in the season’s final few games.
“We are a bounce here or there from being undefeated in area play,” said Kinsaul. “I just want us to keep playing baseball the right way. We teach baseball, but want them to learn the right way to do things.”
The Eagles return to the diamond on April 11 at New Brockton, before hosting the same Gamecocks on Senior Day in Goshen on April 12.
First pitch is set for 4 Ppm.