The Boys are Back

Guthrie’s Diamond Boys were back to rocking and rolling this week after the Spring Break layoff and wasted no time in staying in their high-scoring ways, taking down the El Reno Indians in this week’s indistrict home-and-home series. The Bluejays stayed undefeated on the year, beating the Indians 6-1 on Monday at Squires Field, then traveled to El Reno to take the second game 9-1.

On Monday, the teams went back-and-forth with nothing for the first three innings, managing only three hits total between the two teams. The Indians ground out the game’s first run the old-fashioned way in the 4th inning, with a lead-off single from Gabe Compton, a fielder’s choice from Hernan Blanco moving Compton into scoring position, and a single to center from Eric Parker driving him in.

After taking this initial jab, Guthrie answered with authority in the bottom of the inning. The heart of the Bluejay lineup came in and got Guthrie on the board with an error, a single, and an error respectively, with the last error bringing home Jace Rainwater who was courtesy-running for catcher Carson Wilder. They immediately followed that up with a wild pitch allowing Zach Henry to score from third, then a subsequent double to right from Niko Pena brought Luke Hubbard home. Another single from Josh Dement moved Pena to 3rd, but Pena was picked off there. Dement was able to get to second, though, and Jackson Walters smashed a triple to right, and then was able to score on a throwing error by El Reno shortstop Gavin Tinsley. That closed out the 4th inning with the Bluejays ahead 5-1.

They didn’t let up, and El Reno didn’t score again. Guthrie added one more run in the 6th. Luke Hubbard went the distance for Guthrie, giving up 7 hits total, one walk, and only the single run, earned, while mowing down seven El Reno hitters. Walters was the offensive star for Guthrie, going 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and scoring a run himself.

For the back half of the series at El Reno on Tuesday, Guthrie put up two runs in the 3rd on Carson Evans home run, the first of the year for the Bluejays; his dinger also brought home Jackson Walters who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Building on this 2-0 lead, Guthrie tore the game wide open with a 7-run burst in the 5th inning, combining singles from Niko Pena and Josh Dement with a triple by Willie Clymer, and taking advantage of a walk, a hit batter, and three Indian errors.

Now leading 9-0, Guthrie cruised home behind a stellar outing on the mound from Zach Henry, who gave the Jays their second complete game in as many days. Henry gave up only one unearned run (from an Guthrie error) and four hits and two walks while striking out 7 El Reno hitters. Guthrie’s offense was a true team effort, with Carson Wilder’s home run putting him at 1-for-3 with two RBIs, Zach Henry going 2-4 with a run scored to help his own cause, and Jackson Walters getting a hit in three at-bats and scoring two runs.

The Guthrie Bluejays faced down their biggest challenge of the young season Friday evening, taking down the 2nd-ranked Class 2A powerhouse Dale 2-1.

The game was defined by stellar pitching. Through the first three innings, Dale’s starter JB Leaver baffled the Bluejays at the plate, striking out five of the first eight batters he faced. Guthrie’s only runner came from a throwing error by Pirates third baseman Kash Van Brunt, allowing Jackson Walters to reach first. The Bluejays left him stranded, though.

Dale threatened early, as a one-out double by Easton Edmondson off Guthrie hurler Willie Clymer set the Pirates up for success. However, Van Brunt’s sharp single to center could not get him home as a perfect relay from Walters to Luke Hubbard to Carson Wilder nailed Edmondson at the plate, preserving the scoreless tie.

Dale broke through in the fourth, though, as a single followed by two wild pitches put Van Brunt in scoring position. Tate Rector’s single to left brought Van Brunt home, and the Pirates led 1-0. A sacrifice bunt by Ethan Douglas moved Rector into scoring position, but Clymer shut the door, getting a 4-to-3 ground out from Jack Rooker, then striking out Jake Green looking to end the inning.

That one run lit the fire under Guthrie, and they came out in the fifth with singles from Hubbard, Niko Pena, and Josh Dement. However, both Hubbard and Pena were thrown out at the plate. Combining those outs with a curveball that froze Hayden Calvert for strike three, Leaver held off Guthrie’s charge yet again, and the game stayed 1-0 in favor of the Pirates.

Guthrie charged ahead in the top of the sixth, with Cale Evans’ one-out walk gave the Bluejays some life. Things looked bleak after Carson Wilder lined out to left, but Zach Henry answered the call with two outs, ripping a screaming liner to left for a double, scoring Evans and tying the game at 1-1. Luke Hubbard immediately followed that up with a single to center that scored Henry and put the Bluejays ahead, 2-1.

Dale threatened in the last inning. Clymer got two quick outs, but then gave up two walks and put a man in scoring position for Dale. That brought up the Pirates cleanup hitter Rector, who was already 2-for-3 with an RBI. With Clymer already at 96 pitches and fresh off of the two walks, head coach Terry Bennett opted to go to the bullpen, bringing in Hayden Calvert. Calvert stuck Rector out on three straight pitches, and Guthrie came away with the win.

The Bluejays play a varsity doubleheader against Southeast at Squires Field next Monday, March 27. First pitch for Game 1 is 5:00pm.