By By AARON CARPENTER, Staff Correspondent
The Eagles of Northeast routed Terra Ceia 30-1 Monday night in a game that was called after the fourth inning due to the mercy rule.
Every spot in Northeast’s order batted twice in the top of the third, an inning that saw 15 runs cross the plate for the Eagles.
In a game that saw Terra Ceia (1-4, 0-2) give up 10 walks along with several hit batsmen; when the pitchers could find the plate, the Eagles’ hitters took advantage. Especially Hunter Deloatch, who knocked two out of the park including a grand slam.
Fielding errors also took their toll on the Knights’ ability to shut down the Northeast (3-1 2-1) offense, consistently giving the Eagles extra outs.
The game started off with the first four batters for Northeast smacking singles into the outfield and all four eventually scored.
A couple of outs later, center fielder Deloatch smacked his first homer to give the Eagles an 8-0 advantage.
Eagles’ pitcher Don Jornigan gave up a single to Justin Van Staalduinen, but the Knights’ Joseph Smith grounded into a double play, before a pop up to first baseman Josh Jenkins ended the first inning.
There was a pitching change in the top of the second for the Knights, Bradley Van Staalduinen came on for the beleaguered Hunter Davenport, but the Eagles still managed to score six more runs to stretch the lead to 14-0.
Terra Ceia got one back in the bottom of the second on a throwing error, but it did nothing to stop the bleeding.
The Eagles’ Jornigan struck out to lead off the third, but the next eight batters for Northeast all made it safely home before Blake Butcher, brought in to relieve Van Staalduinen, got Jornigan to fly out to center to record his second out of the inning.
However, the next seven batters all reached base and scored, the last four on Deloatch’s grand slam which made the score 29-1. Deloatch recorded his grand slam off of Jesse Hubers’ second pitch after he was called in to relieve Butcher.
John Pope of Northeast relieved Jornigan on the mound for the bottom of the third and after Justin Van Staalduinen was caught stealing second, retired the next two batters on strikeouts.
DH Arch Harrell, 3-4 with four runs and two RBI, completed the scoring when he was walked home in the top of the fourth, making the score 30-1.
Dylan Hubers walked to lead off the Knights’ half of the fourth, but was picked off third base. After Pope got another strikeout, he hit the next batter who was promptly thrown out trying to steal second to end the game.
Coach Hubers of Terra Ceia, chuckled ruefully after the game was over, but he was able to find a silver lining in the rout.
Northeast plays its next game Saturday in the Rockbridge Easter Tournament and Terra Ceia plays Rockbridge Thursday.
Northeast 86(15) 1XX X — 30
Terra Ceia 010 0XX X — 1
WP: Don Jornigan; LP: Hunter Davenport
Hitters: N — Arch Harrell 3-4 (2 RBI, 4 R), Jeremy Parker 2-4 (RBI, 3 R), Hunter Deloatch 3-4 (6 RBI 4 R), John Pope 2-4 (2 RBI 2 R), Judd Smith 1-2 (RBI, 3 R), Don Jornigan 1-5 (RBI, 2 R), Josh Jenkins 1-2 (3 RBI, 2 R), Jay Baughen 1-3 (3 RBI, 2 R), Brodie Harrell 1-2 (RBI, 2 R); TC — Dylan Hubers 1-1 (R), Justin Van Staalduinen 1-1, Jesse Hubers 1-1