By Mike Varner
Southwest Ohio Correspondent 

MASON OHIO – The No. 2 Mason Comets opened up the 2013 season on a sunny spring day by defeating the Turpin Spartans in both games of a double header. The scores were 8-1 and 9-1, respectively. 

In the first game, Ohio Dominican bound Seth Bowles (pictured right) worked the strike zone almost to perfection overhis six innings of work. Bowles got a bit of a scare in the first when junior third baseman Derek Varner took fastball off the wall in left field. But it wasn’t until the sixth inning when Bowles ran into trouble. Singles by Turpin’s Hunter Sadlon and Alex Capetillo, then a walk to Varner loaded the bases to start the inning. Senior center fielder Bobby Calder hit into a RBI fielder’s choice to second, but Bowles struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

Bowles allowed just two hits and one run. Pittsburg bound T.J. Zeuch pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with his fastball topping out at an easy 90 mph.

Offensively, Mason got on the board in the first inning when 3rd baseman Drew Johnson took Turpin senior pitcher Ryan Flynn (0-1) deep over the left field fence. Mason continued to tack on runs adding one in the 2nd, two in the 4th, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth. Junior Conner Bryan and senior R.J. Thompson led the way with two hits a piece and three RBIs, collectively.

In the second game, sophomore Rodney Hutchinson (1-0) lived up to his No. 15 ranking in the class of 2015. Hutchinson scattered five hits over six innings of work. Hutchinson struck out five batters with a fastball topping out at 86 mph and a nasty curve.

Hutchinson gave up one run in the fifth inning after junior Derek Varner beat out an infield single scoring sophomore shortstop Patrick Fletch from third. Fletch, a transfer from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati playing in his first varsity game, was flawless in the field. He showed excellent actions with both his footwork and glove.

Offensively, Mason struck for four runs in the bottom of the third inning off Turpin junior starting pitcher Alejandro Capetillo (0-1). Five of the first six batters hit safely with infielder Drew Johnson and Hutchinson doubling deep in the gaps for the big hits. Mason scored five more in the fourth inning off Capetillo and senior reliever Mike Donofrio with singles from Thompson, junior Conner Bryan, senior Adam Quick and another double by Hutchinson.

Turpin junior pitcher Jacob Thornton pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh displaying an effective change and a biting curve.

Mason hitters banged out 15 hits for the game with junior outfielder Tyler Thamann going 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Afterwards, Mason head coach Ken Gray commented on “having a strong nucleus of players returning from last year” providing strong leadership with “ our pitching staff being our strong suit this year”.

Coach Gray added, “Junior RHP/IF Chris Martin (Kent State recruit) will be missed this year”.

Mason (2-0) visits Oak Hills on Monday while Turpin (0-2) visits New Richmond on Tuesday.

“We have a lot of inexperience on our roster this year, returning only 4 full time starting position players from last year and one starting pitcher”, said first year Turpin head coach Adam Nemo. He added, “The team has to work harder in two out situations, but that will come with the team’s newly changed attitude and new direction.”