VARSITY BASEBALL: Dawgs start season with pair of wins over Smithies
PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography
Dalton’s Seth Wyckoff pitches
Dalton’s Will Carmichael
By ARIEL STAHLER
DGKN sports writer
A spring rain shower delayed the start of the season for Dalton High School’s varsity baseball team, but when the Dawgs were able to take the field, they earned two wins over Smithville before ending the week with a tough loss to Garaway. Dalton has a 2-1 overall record.
The Dawgs were set to start the season March 25 at Tuslaw, but torrential rain washed away the game. Dalton finally kicked off the season March 28 at home against Smithville, where the Dawgs won 7-0. Dalton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and they added on three more runs in the second inning. The Dawgs scored on a passed ball in the third and capped off the win with one more run in the sixth. Seth Wyckoff pitched a 2-hit shutout and struck out 13 hitters to receive the win.
The Dawgs braved the rain and cold March 29 to defeat host Smithville 13-3.
“That was a miserable, cold game,” Dalton’s head coach Scott Huth remarked following the game.
Alex Hess scored on an error in the top of the first inning to give Dalton an early lead, but that was short lived as Smithville tied it up in the bottom of the first. The Dawgs exploded for seven runs in the second, highlighted with two 2-RBI doubles from Jack Steiner and Will Carmichael. Trey Dunn smacked a 2-run single in the top of the third to extend the deficient, but the Smithies erased the gain by scoring their own two runs in the bottom of the inning. Dalton finished it off by plating one run in the fourth inning and two runs in the fifth. Justin Basinger recorded the win. He gave up three runs on four hits and struck out five batters.
Dalton’s first loss of the season came March 30 when host Garaway won 6-4.
“We pitched well enough to win and hit well in spots,” said Huth. “Just had some early-season defensive lapses that cost us the game.”
The Dawgs capitalized on a couple of errors in the top of the first to take a 3-0 lead, but Garaway closed the gap with a 2-run third inning. Dunn drove in a run in the fourth to put Dalton up 4-2. Garaway took the lead after scoring four runs in the fifth inning and they remained on top for the rest of the game. Hess was given the loss. He gave up four runs on five hits, issued two walks and struck out three hitters.
Follow Ariel on Twitter @AStahlerDGKNews
