RANDY HISNER
WZBD.com
GREENTOWN – Adam Central’s Jack Hamilton smashed a bases-loaded triple to the right-center field fence to break a 4-4 second-inning tie with the Eastern Comets Saturday afternoon, giving the Jets a lead they would never relinquish on their way to a 17-7 victory at the Northwestern High School field.
Less than 20 hours after managing only four hits against Rochester in a 5-3 loss, the Jets exploded for 14 against Eastern, including three for extra bases. Keegan Bluhm led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while Hamilton, Dakota Perry, and Ryan Tester each collected a pair of hits. Perry tied Hamilton for the team lead in R.B.I. with four, two of them coming on a double to right center in the sixth inning to increase the Adams Central run total to 17 and invoke the 10-run rule. One of Bluhm’s hits was for extra bases, a triple down the left field line to lead off the fourth inning. Keagen Combs drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
Combs also drove in a run with a single in the second inning. Tester drove in two runs with a line-drive single to center in the sixth.
“We came out and hit the ball. That was a little different than last night,” said Adams Central coach Josh Foster. Every starter in the Jets’ lineup had at least one hit.
Meanwhile, junior lefty Cade Van De Weg took care of business on the mound. Though he gave up seven runs, only four were earned, and he recorded nine strikeouts in his five innings of work.
“Cade came out a little shaky that first inning,” Foster commented, referring to Eastern’s four hits and four runs in the bottom of the opening frame. “But we got him calmed down. He actually wanted to go another inning, but we said no. I don’t like any kid throwing over a hundred pitches.” Foster brought in Carson Ross to pitch the last inning, and he retired the Comets in order.
Perry Kochensparger and Jon Warren each had two hits for Eastern. Eli Brassard took the pitching loss.
The win advanced the Jets to the fifth-place game in the eight-team tournament against the Rossville Hornets, who beat Taylor in the morning game. The Jets rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 2-1 deficit and win, 4-2. Keagen Combs drove in the two decisive runs with a two-out single. Ryan Tester claimed the complete-game victory on the mound, giving up only five hits and one walk while striking out six. The win puts the Jets at 2-1 for the season.
Eastern bounced back to trounce Taylor, 19-0, in the seventh-place game and even the Comets’ record at 2-2.
Northwestern won the tournament title with a 5-2 win over Peru.
Adams Central will host Bellmont next Tuesday.
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