The Springdale American Legion team, despite a 3-2 loss to Shaler on June 7, continued to carry some big bats as they bested Plum by a 12-7 score on June 12.
“The guys have come out of the gate swinging this year,” Springdale manager Frank Sweeney said.
“I knew that hitting would be one of our strengths.”
What makes the strong hitting even more of a surprise has been the team's adjustment to the ban on aluminum bats.
“Well, I thought that we'd be able to adjust to the wood,” Sweeney said. “I didn't know that we'd adjust so quickly. With the wooden bats, you've got to slow the swing down.
“We've been able to do that.”
The bats weren't there against Shaler, though.
“Shaler's a good team and I thought that it would be a close, low-scoring game,” Sweeney said.
“They're one of the top teams in the division and so are we. It was a good game and a well-pitched game.”
Shaler scored two of their three runs on wild pitches.
“That's a tough way to lose,” Sweeney said. “We scored a pair of runs in the seventh but that was all we could do.”
Against Plum, Andy Marsh picked up the win while Taylor Huber notched his third three-hit game of the young season.
C.J. Smith belted a triple and a double.
Marty Stewart is a sports editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-782-2123 or mstewart@tribweb.com.
