CAMDEN — Preble Shawnee faced some tough opponents the first week of baseball, falling in five of the six contests. The week started with a loss at home on Monday against Middletown Madison. The Arrows’ offense could not get going and scored only one run after a walk and a couple wild pitches.
The Mohawks however were able to plate five runs on seven hits and untimely errors by the Shawnee defense. The final score had Preble Shawnee on the losing end 5-1.
On Tuesday, Shawnee traveled to Dayton Christian’s new field. The Arrow offense came alive with 14 hits led by Cody Chesnut with four hits, Chase Thomson with three and Luke Lovely with a pair.
“Our offense took a couple innings to get started, but when we did, the floodgates where opened,” said Coach Joe Leach. The Arrows’ pitchers allowed only one hit and one earned run in the game. Eli Moreland struck out eight batters in the 14-2 win for Shawnee.
On Wednesday the Arrows traveled to Madison to face the Mohawks for a second time in three days. Madison only outhit the Arrows 9-6, but the Shawnee defense allowed two unearned runs in a good pitching performance by Cody Chesnut in the 4-1 loss. Offensively, Lovely and Thompson added a pair of hits each. Clay Morgan and Cole Heger each added a hit.
After an off day on Thursday, Preble Shawnee traveled to Milton Union where the Bulldogs’ offense outhit the Arrows 12-6. With a few defensive mistakes, the Arrows faced a 11-3 deficit in the bottom of the 5th inning.
“We didn’t give up and kept fighting to get back in the game, Leach said.
The final score was 11-6, Milton Union. The Arrows’ offense was again led by Thompson and Chesnut, each with two hits. Morgan and Payton Roberts added one each.
During 20-40 mile per hour winds, the Arrows hosted Twin Valley South for a double header on Saturday. Both teams struggled to stay warm and keep their hats on in what were more than terrible playing conditions, according to Coach Joe Leach.
In the first contest the Arrows outhit the Panthers 9-8 but couldn’t capitalize on runners in scoring position in several innings.
“Our guys must step up and put the ball in play to get runners home,” Leach said.
Despite another fine pitching performance by Eli Moreland, who allowed no earned runs over 5 1/3 innings, the Arrows fell to South 5-2.
“We had four errors on defense that really cost us the game,” Leach said.
The Arrow offense was led by Morgan with three hits, Heger and Roberts with a pair each, and Lovely and Thompson with hits.
In the second game, it seemed to be a repeat performance by the Arrow defense, allowing three unearned runs in a 4-2 loss. Payton Roberts and Dwight Wilt allowed one earned run on five hits over seven innings of work for Shawnee’s pitching. Offensively, the Arrows once again outhit the Panthers 8-5, led by Thompson with two, and six other Arrow hits.
“It has been a tough day for both teams in these conditions,” Leach said. “Our guys just need to play better defensively and push those runs across when we have runners in scoring position.”
“As Coach Jerimiah Morgan always tells our guys, ‘we do not expect you to make diving plays, but make the routine plays that come to you.’”
The Arrows will host Milton Union Monday, travel to last year’s 2nd place SWBL opponent Carlisle on Wednesday, face Carlisle again at home Friday, and host Seven Hills on Saturday, April 9.