But first, it wins games.

Youngsville put together what coach Eddie Dorunda called “the best defensive game I have seen out of them since I’ve been here coaching,” and the Eagles improved to 3-0 on the season with an 8-0 shutout of Kane on Thursday at Davis Street Field.

“The guys didn’t take a bad at-bat into the field with them and that was huge,” added Dorunda. “They kept their heads up and played for each other and the outcome speaks for itself.”

The Eagles were able to jump on the Wolves early thanks to a clutch two-out, two-run single from Ian Mancuso. That lead held into the fourth inning when the Eagles wiggled their way out of the first of what would be many jams.

Photo submitted by Jay Elfstrom Youngsville pitcher Nathan Lucks winds up and prepares to deliver to the plate. Lucks allowed six hits over seven shutout innings and the Eagles defeated the Wolves, 8-0.

In the top of the fourth, Youngsville appeared to have the third out of the inning with a pickoff attempt at third base, but the runner was called safe despite Dorunda’s objections. A walk followed to put runners on first and third, but pitcher Nathan Lucks induced a groundout to second baseman Wyatt Dalrymple to end the threat.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles were able to add plenty of insurance runs to their total. Ethan Senz singled to start the inning and moved to third on James Johnson’s infield single and a Kane error. After Johnson stole second, Matt DeSimone doubled the Youngsville lead to 4-0 with a two-run hit.

The heads-up baserunning of DeSimone allowed him to move to third on the throw to the plate, setting up his run on a Lucks sacrifice fly.

Kegan Mesel and Dalrymple followed with two singles with two out and nobody on and Mancuso drove Mesel home with his third RBI of the game to make it 6-0.

After leaving the bases loaded in the fourth inning, the Wolves followed with two more innings where the bases were eventually loaded, but no runs scored.

In the fifth, the rally was snuffed by a Dalrymple snag of a line drive at second and a Lucks’ strikeout, while in the sixth inning it was a fly ball caught by right fielder Talon Mesel and a line drive caught by Senz in left that ended the rally.

Youngsville tacked on its final two runs in the bottom of the sixth when a perfectly placed bunt by Aidan Mancuso drew an errant throw to first, allowing the seventh and eighth runs of the game to score.

Mancuso had a strong day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIS. DeSimone, Johnson and Kegan Mesel added two hits apiece and Lucks, David Manning, Dalrymple and Senz had one each.

Lucks got the win on the mound, spreading six hits over seven shutout innings, striking out four and walking just two.

“Nathan was working ahead all night and kept his pitch count low,” said Dorunda. “If our defense plays like we did tonight and our pitchers throw strikes we’re going to be a tough team to play against. I’m proud of the boys.”

The Eagles will look to continue the season’s strong start on Monday when they host Iroquois at 3 p.m.