The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria starts title defense with win
Defending Amherst Summer Classic champion Elyria trailed the young Amherst Gold, 1-0, in the opening game of the tournament on July 25.
ELYRIA 6, AMHERST GOLD 2
But the tide turned in the Pioneers’ favor as they scored two runs in the third inning to fuel a 6-2 win over the Comets.
“I kind of knew at the beginning of the game that we were going to get to (Comets’ pitcher Cam Rios) at some point. (Elyria) had some good swings and they were hitting right at people,” said Pioneers coach Ed Piazza.
“After that, it was (about) swinging at their pitch and not his pitches. They started doing that a lot more. We started taking some and we got a lot more walks.”
The third inning started with two consecutive hits from Elyria’s Steven Furcron and starting pitcher Scott Edgell. Edgell sent
Furcron home to put the first run on the board. Elyria took the lead with an RBI single from their leadoff hitter Isaac Ramos with two outs.
Elyria third baseman Derek Riggar was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI double in the fifth inning. It was followed up with two more runs being tacked on in the bottom of the sixth six with substitute Isaac
Green and Nick Chernitsky crossing home plate.
On the mound, Edgell gave up three hits with two earned runs. He also struck out seven batters over seven innings pitched.
“After that first inning, he threw a lot of pitches. He settled down and started throwing a lot of strikes. That is what I originally wanted him to do. We still have our No. 1 kid (Chernitsky)
ready to go for the rest of the week,” said Piazza. “He saved the bullpen. We have full arms ready to go on (July 27 and 28). Scotty (Edgell) battled.”
Amherst scored its first run in the first with an RBI single from Elijah Kender to send Jaedon Smath home.
Both teams play July 27 as Elyria hosts Midview. Amherst Gold will host Avon at 2 p.m.