-
Pictured above, Grant Elerick slides safely into third base. -
Pictured to the left, Chayton Ellick anticipates the ball. -
Pictured to the lower left, with his opponent safe on second base, Bryce Hughey looks towards the mound to throw the ball. Photos/Chelsea Weeks
The Stroud Tigers came out swinging at the season opener last Friday.
The Tigers took on the Davenport Bulldogs and walked away with a 10-2 win.
The Tigers came out strong in the first inning with four runs.
The Bulldogs responded with two runs, but were unable to catch up to the Tigers.
Head coach Rance Plunkett said for the first game of the season they swung it well.
“I think our strength right now is pitching,” he said
“We’ve got, not necessarily how good we are at pitching that is still to come, but we have a lot of arms. We’ve got a lot of guys we can throw out there and we don’t have that every year.”
During the course of the game, five different Tigers found themselves on the mound.
Grant Elerick pitched two innings and had four strikeouts.
Bryce Hughey pitched one inning and had two strikeouts
Seth Cline also pitched one inning and had one strikeout.
Drew Elerick pitched one inning and had one strikeout.
Blake Parrick pitched one inning and had two runs.
At the time of the game, the Tigers only had five practices with the full team.
Rance said a major goal is to bring the younger players along and develop them as players.
“Our old guys are good, there’s just not that many of them,” he said. “We count on a lot of sophomores, so those guys will have to come along, fill spots and do jobs.”
Three players graduated in May, but the Tigers have four new players for this season.
Last year the Tigers won districts, but fell in the regional tournament.
The Tigers faced the Drumright Tornadoes Monday, Mar. 9, and walked away with two wins.
In the first game of the double header, the Tigers got an early start and made 12 runs within the first inning.
The Tornadoes couldn’t keep up, and the game ended after three innings with a 15-0 win for the Tigers.
During the second game, the Tigers again scored high in the first inning that would secure the win.
The second game only lasted two innings since the Tigers scored 14 runs in the first inning, ending the game with a 18-0 win.
The Tigers will defend home plate against the Meeker Bulldogs Friday, Mar. 13 at 4:30 p.m.