The Crimson baseball squad got into the win column for the first time of the young 2016 season on Tuesday as Manual run-ruled Doss 21-1 in just five innings.
“It feels good to finally get your first win of the season,” Head Coach Matt Timbario said. “It hurts that it took us until our fifth game to get there, but we’ve played some good baseball leading into this game, but in a game like this we get a chance to get everybody in there to get some at-bats and play some out in the field. It was a good team win today.”
Quintin Bynum (11, #13) led the way for the Crimsons offensively, as he recorded two hits: a two RBI single in the first inning and a two RBI double in the second inning.
“I think it helped get us rolling, get us in the hitting attitude,” Bynum said. “It helped us keep hitting and keep the game going.”
Bynum’s four runs batted in, plus an eight run first inning followed by a seven run second inning, would be more than enough run support for pitcher Austin Bedell (10, #3). Bedell pitched a gem for Manual, only giving up one run on three walks and a hit while pitching all five innings to lead the Crimsons to the victory.
“It definitely boosts the confidence,” Ryan Anglin (12, #30) said. “We’ve had four games when we were right in it until the very end, but made some bonehead plays at the end, and we probably should have won each one of those games. It feels good for the team, I’m proud of us.”
Even though Manual (1-4) lost their first four games, Timbario does not seem worried with his team’s win loss record, due to the fact that Manual opened up the season by playing some of the best teams in the state in Bowling Green this past weekend.
“Hopefully after a game like this their confidence is going in the right direction, but if you look at the teams we played and you base it upon what they did last year, three of the four teams were teams that made the state tournament,” Timbario said. “So we were right there with them, and we’ve got to build on that, and that’ll keep you in the right direction.”
In the rout, Timbario was able to play some of his younger players later in the game, which could prove to be valuable varsity experience moving forward.
“It’s always good to get them some experience this early in the season,” Timbario said. “We do have a senior heavy lineup, but whenever you have games like this, when you can work in the other kids and get them some game action, it’s always good for your team.”
Manual will look to build on their dominating performance versus Doss against Valley on Wednesday and Fern Creek on Friday before the Crimsons travel to St. X to take on the Tigers next Tuesday.
“We’ve just got to look at how we played, what things we gotta get better at, continue to improve on things that we’ve been doing and keep drilling it into the kids’ heads, and make sure they keep executing,” Timbario said.
Manual will play at Valley on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
