Clinch River Classic
Mavericks win four in Classic, shutout Union County on Monday
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Anderson County’s Blake Lowe goes for the tag on Girard (Ohio) Indians’ Ryan Genova during Friday night’s Clinch River Classic. The Mavericks won Friday night’s meeting 8-7. - Ricky Williams
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Anderson County’s Easton Beaty spent time on the mound in the Mavericks’ 16-3 win over Sullivan East on Saturday. - Ricky Williams
After getting off to a 4-5 start and losing its District 4-AAA opener on the road against Clinton on Monday, March 25, Anderson County High School’s baseball team has reeled off six consecutive victories.
The Mavericks (10-5 overall, 2-1 in the district) continued their winning ways Monday night with a 3-0 league shutout victory over defending Class AAA state champion Union County at home.
Alex Bond pitched a three-hit shutout against the Patriots as he went seven innings.
He walked four and struck out 12 in a game that was deadlocked in a scoreless tie before Anderson County pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Mavericks would add two more runs in the sixth.
Bond was also big at the plate as he had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run.
In the Clinch River Challenge, the Mavericks won four games and closed out tournament play with a 16-3 victory over Sullivan East on Saturday.
Trent Strickland went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, while Tripp Haire was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Ty Wilson doubled, drew two walks, scored and knocked in a run.
Trey Rowe tripled, scored and had one RBI.
On Friday, the Mavs won two games as they shut out Clay County, 10-0, and won an 8-7 thriller against Girard, as A. J Colorusso delivered the game-winning hit. Blake Lowe had two hits, including a double, scored twice and drove in a run.
Anderson County Coach Josh Boynton said the doubleheader gave him a chance to play some different players and move others around the diamond.
“I always try to schedule a doubleheader a couple of times, so we can see some younger guys and see if we can depend on them in certain situations,” Boynton said. “A.J. got a big hit, Trey Rowe was big and Tripp Haire came in and got some big hits.
“We played really well last week after that first game against Clinton, and we scored 10 or more runs in most of those games. The second game against Clinton) was the big one.”
During their winning streak, the Mavericks have gotten offensive production from every spot in the batting order. Alex Bond entered Monday night’s game with a robust batting average.
“Alex is playing really well right now. He’s hitting .457 and he had a bang-up week,” Boynton said. “A.J. got a big hit, Blake had a couple of big hits and Trey Rowe hit the ball and that was all great for those guys.”
Defense and pitching have also been solid for the Mavericks and that’s a trend Boynton is looking to see continue.
“We’re going to hit.” the ball and we’re going to play defense,” Boynton said. “And our pitchers are going to pound the (strike) zone.”