The Warren Dragons provided first inning offensive fireworks for the second straight day Saturday, improving to 8-1 with an 18-8 victory over the Oil City Oilers at Old Legion Field.
From the opening pitch, the Dragons came out swinging and 10 of their first 11 batters were able to reach base safely. By the time Oil City managed to record the second out, Warren already held an 8-0 lead.
Andrew Bevevino drove in the first run on a double before coming home to score on a Hank Morrison single. Morrison ended up at third after two consecutive wild pitches and scored when Eddie Dorunda hit a sacrifice fly. Matt Jaskolka drove in Kevin VanOrd with a double before Collin Fantaskey, Kory Thomas and Bevevino hit three straight RBI singles.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Jonathan?McAfoos
Throwing strikes
Warren pitcher Preston?McMeans throws a pitch to an Oil?City batter during Saturday’s baseball game at Old Legion Field. McMeans was the winning pitcher in Warren’s 18-8 victory.
The Dragons appeared to have added another run in the second when Todd Fasenmyer came home on what would have been a sacrifice fly. However, the home plate umpire called him out for leaving third base early.
While the crowd made it clear they didn't agree with the call, it wouldn't much matter as far as the game's final score is concerned.
Still, Dragons coach Jeff Passaro said after the game that he though Fasenmyer did everything he was supposed to do.
Fact Box
OIL CITY (8): ab-r-h-rbi: Flaherty, 2b 4-2-3-3, Lang, dh 4-0-2-3, Ruby, p 0-0-0-0, Hepler, 1b 0-0-0-0, McCauley, ss 3-0-0-0, Eberle, rf 4-0-1-2, Stamm, c 3-0-1-0, French, lf 4-0-0-0, Amos, 3b 3-2-1-0, Perry, 1b 2-0-1-0, Staub, cr 0-3-0-0, Gavin, cf 2-1-0-0. Totals 29-8-9-8.
WARREN (18): ab-r-h-rbi: Thomas, ss 5-3-4-4, Bevevino, c 5-3-4-5, Morrison, 3b 5-2-3-1, Dorunda, 2b 3-0-0-1, VanOrd, 1b 2-1-1-0, Cerra, p 0-0-0-1, McIntosh, p 1-0-0-0, Fasenmyer, pr 0-0-0-0, Daley, p 0-0-0-0, Schwanke, pr 0-0-0-0, Jaskolka, rf 3-2-1-1, Ord, ph 1-0-0-1, McMeans, p 3-2-0-0, Fantaskey, lf 3-2-2-2, Walters, ph 1-0-0-0, Danielson, cf 3-3-3-0. Totals 35-18-18-16.
Oil City 002 240 - 8 9 4
Warren 804 006 - 18 18 3
2b-Flaherty (O), Thomas (W), Bevevino (W), VanOrd (W), Jaskolka (W), Fantaskey (W). WP-McMeans. LP-Ruby.
Junior varsity game
Oil City 000 0 - 0 1 0
Warren 203 (10) - 15 17 1
2b-Gustafson (W), Stanz (W), Winters (W). 3b-Schwanke (W) 2. WP-White. LP-Eberle.
"I thought he was safe," said Passaro. "That's a tough call to make, but it is what it is."
After allowing two Oil City runs in the third, the Dragons responded with four more of their own in the bottom of the inning. Fantaskey led off with a double and scored on a Thomas single. Bevevino knocked in two more with a single and Carter Cerra added a sacrifice fly.
Preston McMeans started the game for Warren and pitched two strong innings while earning the win. Some control problems after McMeans left the game allowed the Oilers to creep back into the contest, getting as close as 12-8 after five and a half innings.
"Walks and errors really change the complexion of the game," said Passaro. "It shouldn't have been that high scoring of a game, but that's baseball."
Showing no panic, the Dragons closed the game out in the sixth, adding a run on a balk before Thomas drove in two more runs with a single. Bevevino added another RBI single and Ed Ord brought home the final run on a fielder's choice groundout.
Warren's 18-hit attack was led by the four hits each of Thomas and Bevevino. Morrison and Chris Danielson chipped in three hits apiece. Bevevino had a game-high five RBI and Thomas finished with four of his own.
The Dragons (8-1) return to the diamond Monday, visiting McDowell.
Warren was a 15-0 winner in the junior varsity game. Austin Schwanke had two triples and Ryan Gustafson, Tanner Stanz and Ryan Winters all doubled in the victory. John White allowed just one Oilers hit in earning the win.