By By RYAN ROCKWELL, Sports Writer
LITTLEFIELD -- Everything went wrong for the Pam Pack varsity baseball team on Wednesday as nine walks and four errors by Washington propelled Ayden-Grifton to a 9-1 victory.
The Chargers' ace pitcher, Bryan Ford, took care of the rest, striking out 12 batters in six innings, allowing one run on three hits and walking five. Ford, a senior, has struck out 36 batters in three starting appearances this season.
Washington fell behind early and never recovered from a three-error first inning in which the Chargers plated two unearned runs to take a 2-0 lead. With one out and one on, Washington centerfielder Stetson Mann misplayed a liner from Brandon Gooding. Then, with two outs, Hunter Carnes legged out an infield single and shortstop Blake Jamison errantly threw the ball past first base to score Gooding from third.
The inning continued as Aaron Mobley walked his second batter, loading the bases for Robbie Johnson. Another run scored as Johnson reached on the Pam Pack shortstop's second error.
Washington (0-3) cut the lead in half in the third. Jamison led off the inning with a walk and then stole second and third. With one out, Mann brought Jamison to the plate, roping a single into right.
But the third inning would be more misery than redemption as a three-run shot by Johnson, the seventh batter in the lineup, blew the game open. Gooding was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Gooding made it all the way to third on a single to center by Ford. Gooding scored during the next at-bat by Carnes, advancing home on a wild pitch. Mobley, struggling with his control, walked Carnes and then faced Johnson with one out. Johnson lined the very first pitch over the fence in left to give the Chargers a 6-1 lead.
Mobley was relieved in the fourth after walking the first batter. Mobley pitched three compete, giving up four earned runs on three hits, walking five and striking out five.
Meanwhile Ford continued to mow down the Pack, striking out five in a row between the fourth and fifth innings. Ford retired seven in a row (six by strikeout) before walking two straight in the sixth. Ford regained his composure and retired the final two batters.
Ford got more room for error in the fifth, as the Chargers put three more across without getting a hit. Ayden-Grifton had just five hits on the night, and scored their nine runs on just three hits.
After reliever Cory Calloway opened the fifth with three walks, Billy Moore replaced him. Moore quickly walked in a run and while retiring the next two batters, allowed two more runs to score via the wild pitch.
Pam Pack pitching gave up seven runs, while walking nine batters and throwing four wild pitches.
The Chargers (4-1) continued to excel on the mound. Corey Skinner closed out the game in the seventh. The leadoff batter and second baseman gave up a walk and a hit and had the bases loaded thanks to an error, but struck out two and forced Jock Moore into a flyout to end the game.
Washington had just four hits, struck out 14 times and left nine men on base.
The Pam Pack look for revenge and their first win on Friday afternoon, as the Chargers come to Washington for a 4:30 start.
Washington 001 000 0 -- 1 4 4
Ayden-Grifton 204 030 x -- 9 5 2
WP -- Bryan Ford. LP -- Aaron Mobley
W -- Stetson Mann 1-3 (RBI), Aaron Mobley 2-3, John Brown 1-2. AG: Bryan Ford 1-3, Hunter Carnes 1-2, Alex McCarter 1-3, Robbie Johnson 2-3, (HR, 3RBI).