Rockets lose to Bentworth, drop second straight
Holly Tonini
Jefferson-Morgan’s Austin Clark misses a ground ball during the final inning against Bentworth Wednesday at Jefferson. Bentworth won, 11-1.
Jefferson-Morgan's Brandon Lesko smacks the ball for a double in the 6th inning against Bentworth Wednesday at Jefferson.
Jefferson-Morgan's Dom Cage pitched the first several innings against Bentworth on Wednesday at Jefferson.
JEFFERSON — After winning its first two games of the 2012 season, Jefferson-Morgan dropped its second straight contest after an 11-1 loss to Bentworth Wednesday afternoon in non-section action.
“We are .500 right now and we have played a lot of games so far this season,” J-M skipper John Curtis said. “Including the two scrimmages, we have been on the field six times and that is a lot to have as of March 28. We just need that time and that experience for our young squad. We are battling some injuries and other things at the moment.”
The Bearcats (2-1) scored two runs in the first, second and fifth innings, and put the game out of reach with five runs in the final two frames.
“We have a veteran group on our team with six, starting seniors,” Bentworth coach Dion Jasante said. “We have the experience and our offense has really carried us this year. Sometimes hitting is contagious and our guys fed off of one another. Hopefully we can have a consistent and balanced line-up heading into section play.”
In the opening frame, Bentworth went up 2-0 after a two-run single by Trevor Wood.
The Rockets (2-2) responded in the bottom half of the inning and cut the deficit in half, as Brandon Faieta crossed home plate after an infield error.
The Bearcats’ Tyler Kurutz laced a double that scored two to give the visitors the momentum in the second inning and a 4-1 lead.
In the fifth, Bentworth added two more runs via an RBI single by Kurutz and a sacrifice fly by Wood.
The next inning the Bearcats tacked on four runs courtesy of a run-producing double by Kurutz and a three-run homer by winning pitcher Tyler Delval. Delval pitched five innings for the win with six strikeouts and a walk.
“Tyler is our ace,” Jasante said. “He came out thinking he was going to strong-arm everybody today and he got in trouble in the first inning. He changed his mindset the rest of the game and focused on throwing strikes and getting groundballs.”
Bentworth scored the final run of the game in the seventh when Jake Rothka singled in Jake MaGill. Nick Smydo threw two, scoreless innings in relief for the Bearcats.
Dom Cage pitched three innings and was tagged with the loss for J-M, while Logan Bowman and Austin Clark came on in relief for the Rockets.
“I’m pleased with our progress,” Curtis said. “Guys are getting innings, and that will hopefully pay off when we open up section play. Being mentally tough is where we are weak at. We get down three or four runs, and you have to know and believe that we can come back from that. That’s one of the challenges for our young team this year.”
Brandon Lesko led the Rockets’ offense in the game with three hits, including a double in the sixth.