Kathy Kerler Mowen | For The Register-Herald
EATON — Eaton’s baseball team picked up two league victories last week to set up a crucial week in Southwestern Buckeye League play for the Eagles.
The Eagles rolled over Bellbrook 10-3 on Tuesday, April 18 then took down Valley View 7-5 on Wednesday.
With the wins, Eaton improved to 5-1 in the SWBL West Division and 8-5 overall.
Eaton was scheduled to travel to Waynesville on Monday and host Middletown Madison on Tuesday before playing a pair of games with Carlisle on Wednesday, at home, and Friday (away).
After four league games, the Eagles will wrap up the week hosting state-ranked Kenton Ridge on Saturday for a junior varsity and varsity doubleheader.
Carlisle enters the week 3-1 in the SWBL West and 8-3 overall. Every other team in the division has at least three losses.
Against Bellbrook, Eaton jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. Eaton added a run in the second to go up 5-0.
Bellbrook added single runs in the third and four to get within 5-2. Eaton responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 7-2 lead.
After Bellbrook plated a run in the fifth, Eaton closed out the scoring with three runs in the sixth.
Senior Brock Ebright earned the win by tossing six innings, allowing six hits and striking out four.
Offensively, for Eaton, Ty Crammer was 3-for-3. Ebright went 1-for-3 with a double and scored twice.
JT Gels added two hits and drove in two runs.
Xavier Mathews was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Brady Rice added two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs.
Against Valley View, Eaton built a 4-1 lead after three innings then held off the Spartans for a 7-5 win.
Rice picked up the winning pitching 5 innings with six strikeouts and allowing eight hits. Carson Brower pitched the last two innings to earn the save, striking out three in the process.
Eaton scored twice in the second and third. The Eagles added two more in the fifth and one in the seventh.
Valley View scored a run in the second, fourth and sixth and twice in the fifth.
Crammer drove in two runs, while Gels added three more hits, including a double. Rice walked twice and scored two runs.
In all, Eaton took advantage of 10 walks issued by Valley View pitchers.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on Twitter @emowenjr.
