Meeker’s Bulldogs unleashed some serious offense last week, winning five games by a cumulative score of 90-3.
That put them at 6-0 for the season, pending a three-game trip to Southeastern Oklahoma this week and a pair of games at Cleveland on Saturday.
There were hitting stars aplenty: Maverick Herring went 6-for-12 for the week with two home runs, a double and 13 RBI; Bryce Bussell was 5-for-10 for the week with a double and 6 RBI; Titus Grimes hit safely in five straight games, went 8-for-14, doubled twice and drove in 13 runs; and Castin Schaefer hit safely in all five games, went 6-for-12, doubled twice and drove in 11 runs.
“The guys are believing in the process.,” said coach Caven Herring. “We try to work hard and not worry about who’s on the other side. Just doing the right things, and so far they’ve done a good job.
“It’s showed up in a big way, so I’m just going to try to keep on that track.”
Meeker’s five games were two wins over Okmulgee (25-0 and 240) and wins over Wetumka (19-0), Depew (12-1) and Davenport (10-2), in the finals of the Darrell Fairchild Memorial Tournament in Depew.
That kind of start begs the question: How good can this team be?
Herring didn’t say, preferring to keep the focus more on the here and now and taking the games as they come.
“We’re positive, trying to take it one game at a time, trying to treat every game like it’s opening day,” he said.
“Baseball season is a long grind. We try not to get too high or too low. Just go out and have fun and compete in the game.
“We just have a bunch of baseball players, and that’s one of the beautiful things about this team.
“We have guys that are going to play multiple positions and any lineup we throw out there we feel pretty confident on the defensive side of it.
“We train everyone like a shortstop and center fielder and then, when the game rolls around, we just try go out play baseball and have fun.”
The Bulldogs are back at home Monday against Chandler for a district game, then head to Chandler on Tuesday.
Area roundup
Carney
- For the week, 4-1. Wins over Paden (2-0), Cimarron (8-3). Macomb (19-1), Bennington (8-3). Loss to Achille (145-3) Now 5-1 for the season.
The Bulldogs ran off four straight wins, boosting their record to 5-1 before falling to Achille on Friday.
Against Paden, Payton Edgar homered for the Bulldogs and James Martin threw three innings of no-hit ball and struck out four in the three-inning game.
Against Cimarron, Carney used a five-run second inning to get the win.
Garrett Webb had two hits and two runs batted in and first baseman Eli King had a single and a pair of RBI.
Edgar worked 3.2 innings on the mound, striking out seven while allowing only one hit. Remington Martin relieved in the fourth and went an inning and a third, allowing two hits.
Remington Martin came back with a strong day against Macomb, driving in four runs with a pair of singles. James Martin added a pair of RBI.
Bennington scored three runs in the top of the first on Friday, but it was all Carney the rest of the way. Lane Ramsey homered, doubled and drove in three runs.
He also picked up the win on the mound, giving up five hits and no earned runs over five innings.
Garrett Webb and Remington Martin doubled and Edgar added two RBI.
Chandler
- For the week, 2-1. Wins over Wellston (9-0) and Bristow (11-2). Loss to OKC Broncos (5-1). Now 2-3 for the season and 0-2 in district.
Rhett Haley and Garrett Garner had three RBI each against Wellston and Sawyer Sims threw five