Wilson’s one-hitter highlights GHC’s doubleheader sweep
From GHC reports
Brandon Bell hit his second homer in as many games and former Sonoraville High standout Drew Wilson carried a no-hitter through five innings in a 10-0 defeat of NJCAA DII power Cuyahoga CC in the first of a split team doubleheader on Saturday.
Wilson was electric, walking only one batter and barely allowing contact as he struck out 8 in his third win of the season. Wilson’s one hitter was the first in GHC Baseball history. Head Coach Dash O’Neill raved about his freshman right-hander.
“What can you say about what Willie did out there today,” said O’Neill. “In a closer game he may have gotten the no-no because we may have been playing the lines a little tighter, but you can’t ask for a better performance from a guy that just comes out and does everything you ask of him.”
The Chargers offense got started early, scratching a run in the first, but Cuyahoga was able to hold Highlands at bay until they exploded for six runs in the fourth inning. Matthew Vaccaro lined out to short to open the inning, then Brandon Bell hit a solo homer to left and Nick Fink fanned for the second out of the inning.
With two down, the Chargers went to work. Evan Mask, Isreal Zackery, and Bronco O’Brien worked three consecutive walks to load the bases, then Devin Bilardello and Grant Bodison sandwhiched a pair of doubles around a Jonathan White hit by pitch. When the dust cleared, the Chargers were up 7-0 and the rout was on. GHC would add a run in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to end the game via mercy rule 10-0.
With game one in the books, the Chargers took on Macomb Community College in the second game of the twilight doubleheader. Pitching and relentless offense would again be the story. Freshman Matthew Norton, making just the second start of his career was dominant. After allowing a “squib” single to the second hitter of the game Norton would not allow another baserunner until the sixth inning, striking out 11 and walking none to earn the win. Bradley Hood was equally effective in relief of Norton, striking out four batters in two innings.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Chargers had 11 different hitters record a hit in the game, led by Jonathan White, who was 2-3 with a double and four RBIs. Caleb McElwaney also belted out a pair of hits as Highlands scored two in the first, three in the second and third innings, and three more in the eighth inning to seal a second consecutive win by mercy rule.