Reds Sweep Doubleheader at Blue Sox

By Dean Barker
​The Bridgewater Reds utilized two stellar pitching performances and eleven runs to sweep a double header with the Elkton Blue Sox, 7-2 and 4-0 on June 3. With the wins, the Reds moved to 5-1 and a tie with Clover Hill for first place, while the Blue Sox fell to 0-7 and stayed in last.
 
“It went down to pitching again, and the hitting,” acting Bridgewater head coach Dennis Miller said. “I think the more these guys play, the better we get.”
 
Derek Shifflett pitched a complete seven innings in the first game, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits with one walk and ten strikeouts. At the plate he was 3-7 on the day with a walk and an RBI from a home run in the first game.
 
“When you have defense like that behind you, and… when you score that many, it feels pretty good, especially in a seven-inning game,” Shifflett said.
 
Nick Griffin pitched six shutout innings in the second game, giving up just one hit and no walks and striking out four.
 
“I had command of all five pitches, just stay low in the zone, roll ground balls, let our defense make plays,” Griffin said.
 
Noah Cornwell had a powerful day at the plate, going 6-7 with a walk and five RBIs and a walk, including a two-run homer in the second game.
 
“Like I said last night, just trying to get myself in good counts, hit the ball hard,” Cornwell said. “You know, this infield isn’t really the best, so I was just trying to make them make plays in the infield, and hit the ball hard and see what happens, and I think that’s what I did today.”
 
Brett Tharp had a speedy day, bunting for a single in the second game and stealing two bases in the first. One of those bases was home, which he stole in the fourth inning of game two.
 
“Just watching the catcher, how he throws the ball back, and what the pitcher does after he catches it, that’s the main thing,” Tharp said. “If the catcher’s just gonna lob the ball back, that gives you the opportunity, and usually pitchers aren’t expecting somebody to steal home, so it catches him off guard, and gets him to bobble the ball.”
 
Peyton Thomas took the loss for Elkton in game one, throwing six innings and giving up seven runs (five earned) on eleven hits with two walks and one strikeout. Alex Sutton lost the second game, giving up four runs (three earned) on ten hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Colby Cave pitched the seventh innings of both games, giving up no runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
Dusty Cash went 1-6 on the day with one RBI, a solo home run to right in the first game. Brandon Mullins went 1-2 in the second game, his third inning double to right being the only Blue Sox hit of the second game. Andi Merica went 3-6 on the day.
 
“They (Bridgewater) outhit us; they had balls drop that we didn’t, I mean we pieced up some nice hits and they were right to them, that was the biggest thing,” Elkton head coach Mike Sutton said. “Our pitching really worked well for us, and overall I’m pleased with where we’re at.”
 
Bridgewater will hope to take sole possession of first place when they travel to the Clover Hill Bucks on Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30 pm. After getting a little bit more action under their belts, Miller hopes his team will be ready for the rematch with the Bucks, losing the first game 8-6 on Monday, May 29.
 
“We’ve seen them now, we’ll be a little bit more prepared for Clover Hill,” Miller said. “Like you say, we hadn’t played for a whole week, and so we were kind of cold, but I think we’re ready this time.”
 
Elkton will look for their first win when they host the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks on Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30 pm. To win, Sutton emphasized the need for offensive production.
 
“The key of it is just getting some hits to fall,” Sutton said. “If our pitching runs the way it did tonight, and you know, we played really solid defense tonight, things are gonna fall into place.”
Bridgewater Reds Interview (6/3/23) - YouTube
Mike Sutton Interview (6/3/23) - YouTube

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