Warren East used an offensive powered third inning to earn a 4-2, series-opening win over Greenwood on Tuesday evening at Bowling Green High School’s Harold J. Stahl Field.
The Raiders (6-6 overall, 2-2 District 14) — who snapped a three-game losing streak — unloaded for a trio of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead over Greenwood and were able to hold on from there.
Ty Stringfield performed at a high level for East, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, and was one of five Raiders that recorded hits. Alongside Stringfield, Dakota Basham earned a hit and an RBI, while freshman Brady Dragoo started on the mound for the first time in his varsity career and tossed three strikeouts with just two hits in 4.1 innings.
“It was a good performance by him,” Warren East pitching coach Eugene Flippin said of Dragoo’s performance. “He set the tone. He did a fantastic job. I told him before the game to just come out and throw strikes and ‘do what you’ve been doing with JV.’ Actually, he did a hecukva job not knowing he was pitching until about 20 minutes before the game.”
“Dragoo, our pitcher, he started off and threw strikes, got us some outs and we just strung some hits together,” Stringfield said. “We just tried to come out and play ball and score as many runs as possible.”
Cade Thornton led the way for Greenwood (10-4, 3-1) — which had its four-game winning streak snapped — with a hit and scored a run.
Warren East got its bats going in the third inning.
After a single from Nolan Ford, a double by Stringfield scored Ford and gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead. Following Stringfield’s big hit — and an intentional walk that put Ryan Hawks on and loaded the bases — Basham used a sacrifice fly to plate Ford before Colson Elkins’ RBI ground out put East up 3-0 after three.
“It was pretty special,” Stringfield said of his first double of the night. “Coming off a slump, I wanted to get in there and try and put the ball in play and score as many runs as possible. I had runners on every at-bat, and I done what I could.”
Greenwood answered two innings later.
With the bases loaded and just one out in the top of the fifth, the Gators scored their first two runs of the evening to cut their deficit to 3-2. Just after Ryan Wheeler batted into a fielder’s choice that plated Reed Slone, Thornton was able to cross the plate on a passed ball to bring Greenwood right back into it.
Warren East immediately answered in the ensuing frame. With a pair of runners on, Stringfield came up big again, ripping another double into left field to send Ford home and put Warren East up 4-2 after five.
“That was a huge insurance run,” said Flippin. “Ty is probably one of the better fastball hitters around. When he locks in, he can really drive the ball in the gap.”
John Hicks doubled to lead off the seventh, but it wouldn’t be enough, as Raider relief pitcher Cameron Martin left him stranded as East earned a much-needed win.
Warren East and Greenwood will meet for the second game of their three-game set on Wednesday at Corey Hart Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“It’s good,” said Stringfield on winning the series opener. “It’s good for everybody. We just need to keep playing. We had a couple losses, so now we’re trying to come out stronger.”
–Senior writer Tyler Mansfield can be reached at mansfield.sportingtimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @TMansfieldST.–
