LINDEN – North Montgomery swept a twin bill Wednesday against Sagamore Conference rival Frankfort by the scores of 9-1 and 2-1. The Charger victories were a result of good pitching and timely hitting by the home team.
Frankfort (7-6, 3-4) only mustered three hits total on the night while North Montgomery (9-3, 4-3) totaled 15 hits in the two games.
“All of our pitchers did a great job,” Charger coach Matt Voorhees said. “It is good to walk out of here with two victories tonight because it is always a dogfight with Frankfort.”
Game One
Charger ace Jarrod Kirsch surrendered just two hits to the Hog Dogs and allowed only one earned run. The lefty recorded 10 strikeouts in seven innings.
North Montgomery jumped on Frankfort starter Oscar Lopez with three runs in the bottom of the first inning when the Chargers’ first three batters recorded singles. Ross Dyson drove in Kirsch for the first Charger run and Corbin Meadows hit a sacrifice groundout that scored Gage Edwards. First baseman Cade Cole stepped up to the plate and doubled into left center field chasing home Meadows.
The Chargers plated five more runs in the third inning which included RBI singles by Kirsch and Edwards.
Lopez pitched the first three innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits while striking out three batters and surrendering two walks.
Frankfort’s lone run came in the fourth inning when Matthew Berry delivered a two-out double scoring Alex Lopez who had reached base after being hit by a pitch.
Game Two
Frankfort starting pitcher Alex Lopez and Chargers Cade Cole and Roman Utterback threw a pitching duel in the second game of the doubleheader.
Frankfort’s Alex Lopez earned a walk in the bottom of the first inning. Lopez stole second and scored on a North Montgomery error to take the early 1-0 lead.
After another walk, Cole was able to find the strike zone and ended the inning with three straight strikeouts.
The lone score was held until North Montgomery, who was the visiting team in the second game, was able to scratch two fourth inning runs home after the first two Charger batters had recorded outs.
The Charger rally started when Jarrod Kirsch doubled to centerfield. Gage Edwards, who ended the game with three of the Chargers’ five hits, brought home Kirsch. Noah Hopkins next hit a rope to left field to chase home Edwards for the eventual winning run.
North Montgomery’s Roman Utterback pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the save.
With no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning sophomore catcher Jack Warren made a play that kept the Hog Dogs from having a runner on second with no outs.
Frankfort’s Yandel Santos hit a ball that resulted in an overthrown ball at first base. Santos immediately took off for second base, but Warren hustled to first to back up the errant throw. Warren was able to gun out Santos at second to keep the bases empty.
“The play by Jack Warren was huge and was a great hustle play,” Voorhees said. “To keep the bases empty at that point was big. Actually we had several really good hustle plays by several players tonight and that made a difference.”
Edwards had five hits on the night which resulted in three RBI. Charger Coach Matt Voorhees praised his senior second baseman after the twin bill.
“We made an adjustment two weeks ago and bumped Gage up in the lineup,” Voorhees said. “Gage has responded with big hit after big hit. We are super proud of him.”
Edwards said his approach to his senior season is helping him find success.
“It really is about going out there and having fun,” Edwards said. “I am just trying to make something happen for the team.”
North Montgomery now has a five-game winning streak after the sweep of the Hot Dogs.
The Chargers travel to Parke Heritage for a 6:30 p.m. game Friday.
