HART – Shelby baseball’s pitchers were efficient on the mound Tuesday, May 6, helping the Tigers earn a doubleheader sweep on the road over West Michigan Conference (WMC) Rivers rival Hart.
The Tigers had an impressive game one outing, leaning on the right arm of DayDay Garcia. Garcia keyed Shelby to victory on the bump, throwing a complete game and surrendering just three hits while striking out 13 batters in an 11-2 win.
Shelby was as dangerous at the plate as they were pitching. After falling behind 2-1 in the third inning, the Tigers woke up in the fourth to push four runs across. Taking a 6-2 lead in the fifth inning, only widened the gap as Hart struggled to find their way on the basepaths.
The knockout blow came in the top of the seventh inning when Chase Simon slugged a ball over the fence for a three-run home run. The Pirates were unable to rebound from a nine-run deficit in their final at-bat, spelling a lopsided loss.
Ty Schlukebir took the loss for Hart, throwing five innings before Aiden Cull entered in relief.
The nightcap was a true pitcher’s duel as neither team could create much of a lead for themselves in a 3-1 win for the Tigers. Like the first game, Hart found a way to get on top early, taking a 1-0 lead after the first inning and holding it until the fourth.
In that fourth inning, Trevor Weiss sat down three Pirates via strikeout to set the Tigers up for their best frame at the plate. Shelby drove in three runs, taking the lead.
Weiss continued to give the Pirates’ offense fits, shutting them down for the remainder of the game to complete the sweep. Weiss threw a complete game in the victory, only allowing three hits while striking out 12.
Avery Guikema took the loss for Hart, despite an impressive performance.
Leading Shelby in hits was DayDay Garcia who had four between the two games. Chase Simon recorded three hits and four runs batted in (RBIs) including the three-run homer in game one. Weiss and Evan Waller each had two hits, while Leighton Belasco had an RBI.
Brendan Hiddema led Hart, going 2-for-6 at the plate. Guikema also went 2-for-6, including an RBI double in game one.
Shelby improved to 14-6 overall and now owns an impressive 6-2 record in the WMC Rivers.
Hart dropped to 7-9-1 overall and is now 2-8 in the WMC Rivers.
