STUART — An eight-run eruption in the top of the sixth inning propelled Woodward-Granger to a 12-2 win over host West Central Valley in the season and West Central Conference opener for both teams Wednesday.
W-G scored once in each of the first three innings, but WCV stayed in contact, trailing only 3-2 after three with single tallies of their own in the first and third stanzas.
Pinch-runner Mason Burkhart stole second in the top of the fourth and moved to third on a throwing error. With two out and a two-strike count on the batter, Burkhart shocked the hosts and stole home on a straight steal for a 4-2 lead and emotional boost.
Neither team scored until the top of the sixth, when a parade of Hawks raced around the bases and blew the game open. The contest ended an inning early when WCV failed to score in their half of the sixth, bringing the 10-run rule into effect.
Race Brant was 3-for-3, with Tre Loge hitting a RBI-single and RBI-double, while Brady Aunspach added a double and a base hit and Marcus McConahay a two-run double. Michael Connor smacked a RBI-double, with Jackson Larson providing a two-base hit, Dylan Garland two singles and Austin Scharlau a base hit.
“The guys did a good job of working the count and then putting the ball in play,” head coach Eric Evans said. “We only struck out four times — just once looking — and turned opportunities into big plays.”
Garland allowed two unearned runs on just two hits in collecting the win on the bump. He walked three batters but set nine down on strikes.
W-G will host Des Moines Christian tonight and Southwest Valley Friday before visiting Eddyville-Blakesburg Saturday.
————————-
WOODWARD-GRANGER 12, WEST CENTRAL VALLEY 2 (6)
at Stuart, May 27
Team R H E
W-G 111 108 — 12 13 3
WCV 101 000 — 2 2 1
W-G: Garland and Connor. WP: Garland. 2B– W-G: Connor, Aunspach, Loge, Larson, McConahay.
