By Dylan Hefflinger

SHERWOOD- No. 1 Defiance traveled to Sherwood to take on Division III No. 19 Fairview (13-6) in a battle of non-conference powers on Monday. The Bulldogs made the game a "ground ball game" as coach Tom Held preached to his team before the game, with the wind blowing in briskly.

 

The Bulldogs (15-1) followed their coaches orders and pounded out 12 hits in the 10-0 victory, with the majority of the hits being of the ground ball variety.

 

Defiance got on the board early with shortstop Jacob Moore blasting a single up the middle, followed by a walk to Joe Keewen and an error by Fairview pitcher Kyle Thomas, plating Moore. Sophomore Austin Hancock added another run with an RBI single to score the junior Keewen.

 

Senior Anthony Kidston, who batted lead-off for the Bulldogs for just the second time all season, got the 3rd inning going with a walk. Kidston stole 2nd and 3rd before coming home on an RBI groundout putting the Bulldogs up 3-0.

 

Tyler Batt, an unsigned senior, was on the mound for the Bulldogs, coming in with a 0.00 ERA and it stayed that way after 6 innings on the mound. The 6-0 right-handed senior pounded the strike zone throwing strike after strike, allowing just 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 6. Batt's fastball was consistently in the low 80s topping out at 84.

 

With the score 5-0, Defiance blew open the floodgates in the 5th innings, as the Bulldogs took advantage of Apache errors and wildness on the mound. Defiance added 4 runs in the frame, which started out with a walk to Keewen. After moving up on a wild pitch, sophomore Dom Gentile walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd. A double steal put runners on 2nd and 3rd before got Hancock to line out to center.

 

Kidston was intentionally walked loading the bases for Bulldog catcher Joe Gentile who lined a shot up the middle that brought in 2 runs. Gentile stole second to put 2 runners in scoring position. Defiance No. 3 hitter junior Rob Zeigler delivered a single scoring 2.

 

Zeigler finished the day with 3 singles and 3 RBI while 6-6 senior Shea Murray added 2 singles and Kidston a double.

 

Cornerstone University commit Taylor Cooper came in to finish the game out in the 7th. The senior sat down the Apaches in order, striking out 2.

 

The Bulldogs now head to St. Marys (10-5) Tuesday in WBL action at 5 p.m. Fairview travels to hook up with Wayne Trace at the same time.