Bellwood-Antis defeats Vikings twice in double-header
April 24, 2018
A double-header game is always a challenge, no matter what team you play, and the Blue Devils passed with flying colors, taking home two wins.
The Blue Devils defeated Glendale first 17-0, and second 16-0. Each game only lasted three innings, with B-A batting three times in the first game, and only twice in the second.
In the first game, Bellwood-Antis started the game going up 4-0 setting the tone for the innings that followed. After that, the Blue Devils added 13 more runs in the next two innings while not giving up any themselves. Freshman Owen Shedlock won his first varsity game at the mound, only allowing four hits in three innings, and Travis Luesmann scored a three run home-run.
In the second game, it was more of the same for the Blue Devils. B-A scored 11 runs in the first inning, followed by five in the second, while continuing their shutout of the Vikings. Alex Schmoke won the game for the Blue Devils, allowing one hit in three innings. The Blue Devils also had a spectacular three home-runs, scored by Luensmann, Troy Walker, and Trentin Whaley.
This demolition of Glendale’s baseball team let the Blue Devils get more rest than usual, and that’s important with a busy week ahead, and only one off day in the next four days.
“We wanted to get two games finished as fast as we could, and doing it in five and a half innings, I think we achieved that goal,” catcher Jack Showalter said.
These games also were important to the Blue Devils for one other reason. Head coach Steve Conlon scored his 200th and 201st high school wins against the Vikings, a big accomplishment in his 15 year long coaching career – well, to everyone except him,
“Reaching 200 wins means that I have coached a lot of baseball games,” Conlon remarked. Although the milestone was fairly meaningless to Conlon, the coach took the time to credit the athletes and players he’s coached throughout the years. “I attribute the success of the baseball program to the kids that we have here at Bellwood,” Conlon said.
The Blue Devils will play again today at 4:30 in Mount Union. Led by junior pitcher Dylan Gearhart who is committed to NCAA DI school Binghampton University, the Trojans (5-2), have had an impressive season thus far, including beating B-A once already.