The Northmor baseball team kept Mount Gilead winless in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference with a 5-1 victory on the Indians home field on Wednesday. Pitcher Jake Farley went the distance for the Knights and earned the win.
Farley allowed two hits and two walks, he struck out five. Knights head coach Buck Workman was not surprised by Farley’s performance. “Every time Farley goes out there he gives us a chance to win; he has an ERA just over 1.0 and 34 strike outs in 22 innings coming in.”
The young Knights, only three seniors on the roster, had to play from behind. Mount Gilead took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a passed ball which scored, Alex Coder from third base.
Coder reached on a fly ball in short left field that dropped in as three players converged. Shortstop Jordan Wiseman appeared shaken up on the play and the other players lost track of the baseball, allowing Coder to scamper around to third.
Northmor took advantage of a leadoff walk and a throwing error from the Indians third baseman to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Bryan Hammond and Ryland Thomas both scored runs and Wiseman was credited with an RBI.
Thomas, who was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off, scored the Knights third run of the game on a fielder’s choice.
Northmor finished the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning.
The Knight defeated Indians pitcher Noah Arrington for the first time in three seasons. “Arrington has given us fits for the past three years,” said Workman. “Last year he beat us 5-0 and two years ago, in a ten inning game, he beat us 1-0. He’s good.”
Northmor’s win was the second in a s many nights, they defeated Bucyrus 6-3 in a game that was recently scheduled. The team’s performance was vastly different in the two contests. “Coming from 16 strike outs last night (versus Bucyrus) to only on tonight and putting the ball in play and putting pressure on their defense, it was good,” stated Workman.
Offensively the Knights made adjustments over the two games. “Last night we were taking pitches and we struck out a lot,” said Workman. “Tonight we did the little things that were successful, bunts and moving the runners.”
Workman stressed the significance of taking advantage of opportunities. “We try to make adjustments, we preach it in practice. Take what they give us, early on we were aggressive.”
Workman was pleased with the team’s defensive effort. “Our defense played well behind Farley. (Conan) Becker made a play in center field as good as you’re going to see, that’s what we have to do.”
Northmor will host Elgin on April 15. The Comets handed the Knights a 3-2 setback earlier in the season and Workman hopes to turn the table. “Early in the season we were playing bad defense, they beat us 3-2, we got off to a rough start.”
With an improved defense and a modest two game win streak the young Knights look to build on their momentum.
