Vinton County at Alexander

Just wanted to put up my latest story for The Athens Messenger. It was the Vinton County at Alexander baseball game on Monday night. Tomorrow I'm doing the Trimble at Athens high school baseball game if it doesn't get rained out.

Spartans begin season with win

By NICK BROCKMAN

ALBANY - Alexander may have lost 10 seniors from last years' Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division championship team, but the Spartans started the season on a strong note in defense of their title.

Alexander scored in each of its first three at-bats and eventually defeated the Vinton County Vikings 8-5 on Monday night in the Spartans' season-opener.

"This is the first of hopefully many from this young team," Alexander coach Vaughn Grigsby said. "I was pleased overall with the way we played too for us to have as young a team as I got."

Grigsby sent junior Josh Moritz to the mound for his first career varsity start. Moritz allowed 12 hits, but managed to limit the Viking rallies once runners reached base by making key pitches and allowing his defense to pick him up.

"I thought Josh threw the ball extremely well," Grigsby said. "He mixed it up well. He threw his off-speed pitch and threw his curveball for strikes. That just makes that fastball that much faster."

Moritz and the Spartans entered the top of the seventh inning with an 8-3 lead, but the Vikings never gave up. With two outs and two runners on, pinch-hitter Trey Hedrick found a hole in right field to cut the lead to three runs. Moritz, however, regrouped and struck out the next batter looking to end the game.

"He got the game ball out there tonight," Grigsby said. "I tossed that to him when we talked to him. I was really proud of him."

By game's end the Vikings out-hit the Spartans 12 to four, but Alexander took advantage of seven walks and timely hitting while Vinton County could not string together enough hits. The Vikings left 10 runners on base during the game.

"We had our key hitters up with runners in scoring position and we weren't able to break through," Vinton County coach Jeremy Ward said. "We hit the ball. We had some good at-bats. We had some opportunities. They just simply scored every time they got on base and they really maximized their opportunities."

Each of Alexander's first six batters contributed with a RBI during the game, but Grigsby said he was most impressed with leadoff hitter Matt Sheets.

Sheets, a junior centerfielder, finished the game 1-for-1 with three walks, two stolen bases, and a RBI.

"Matt Sheets, he's going to set the table for us," Grigsby said. "If he gets on base good things are going to happen."

After the game Grigsby said he was concerned that the team collected just four hits, but said the win is the most important stat.

"All in all we can't complain about the first win," he said. "I thought we did a good job tonight."

Alexander starts the season 1-0 while Vinton County drops to 2-1.

Alexander 8, Vinton County 5

Vinton County 110 001 2 - 5 12 1
Alexander 241 001 X - 8 4 1

Start: 4:58 End: 7:05

A: pitcher Josh Moritz, catcher Michael Chapman
V: pitchers Taylor Reed, Andy Grillo (2), Tyler Dutcher (6), catcher Derek McManus

WP: Moritz
LP: Reed