Pam Pack baseball breaks out with conference win

Published 11:37 am Friday, April 3, 2015

CONTRIBUTED TOP PERFORMER: Sophomore Tripp Barfield went the distance and picked up the win Thursday evening against Beddingfield, recording 12 strikeouts and giving up just three hits.

CONTRIBUTED
TOP PERFORMER: Sophomore Tripp Barfield went the distance and picked up the win Thursday evening against Beddingfield, recording 12 strikeouts and giving up just three hits.

The young Washington Pam Pack baseball squad ended the early season string of close losses with an 8-1 win against conference foe Beddingfield. With the win, Washington improved its season record to 2-7 and moved to 1-2 in conference play.

The Pack pounded out nine base hits in the season’s best offensive showing yet, scoring two in the first inning on a walk and stolen base by sophomore Cody Godley, who later scored on an RBI single by senior Patrick Thompson. Thompson advanced to third on a stolen base and passed ball and scored on a single by junior Neill Jennings.

The Pack plated two more runs in the third. The first run was an unusual play when Thompson walked and then scored when Jennings struck out, but the catcher dropped the ball and failed to throw to first. The catcher threw to the pitcher who fired to first to try and throw out Jennings. The throw was wild and ended up down the right field line. Thomson scored from first, and when the dust settled, Jennings was on third. Jennings scored when Nick Everett hit into a fielder’s choice grounder to the first baseman.

Beddingfield scored its lone run in the fourth inning on a walk, two passed balls, and a single. The Pack broke the game open with three more runs in the top of the sixth when sophomores Matt Black and Tripp Barfield reached on a walk and single respectively. Senior Jamond Ebrom drove in both Black and Barfield on a double ripped down the left field line. Ebron then scored on a solid single by junior Tyler Moore. The Pack closed out the scoring in the top of the seventh inning when junior Logan Winstead reached on a walk and scored on successive singles by freshman Fredrick Holscher and Black.

Barfield pitched a solid game, going the distance for his first varsity win. Barfield gave up three hits, walked four, but fanned 12 Beddingfield batters.

The Pack squad will participate in the Pitt County Easter tournament with games on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. The tournament will provide opportunity for continued growth and will stretch the depth of the young Pam Pack pitching staff.