BASEBALL: Indians start off with a win

Posted March 19, 2014 11:00 pm

Patricia Ferrari

The DuQuoin Indian baseball team got off to a fantastic start on Monday in a home game with Benton. The Indians won their first game of the season with a 5-2 victory over the Rangers. DuQuoin pitcher Camdon Mercier pitched a great game for the Indians, who are 1-0 on the season. Benton fell to 1-1.

Mercier, the winning pitcher for DuQuoin, allowed two earned runs on seven hits with two walks, and five strikeouts, His curve ball was really working and puzzled many of the Benton batters. Mercier went all seven innings for the Indians.

The losing pitcher for Benton was Gus Gibbs. Gibbs allowed five earned runs on ten hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Dillon Chamness relieved in the fifth inning going an inning and two-thirds. Chamness allowed no runs or hits and had one strikeout. Neither team had any errors in the game.

DuQuoin totaled ten hits in the contest. Camdon Mercier helped his own cause at the plate going 2-for-3, with 2 RBI and a home run. Brock Bullar (2-3, R), A.J. Smith (0-2, BB), Camden Youngman (0-3, R, RBI, SB), Dalton Bigham (2-3, RBI), Brendon Shepard (1-3, R), Jacob Valier (1-3, RBI), and Lane Valier (1-3) also had hits for the Indians. Logan Patalas was a courtesy runner during the game.

The Indians are coached by Tim Craft, with Jeromie Morgan, Dave Hopkins, Kyle Geiger, and Cory Robbins assisting. Roger Craft is the scorekeeper.

Benton totaled seven hits: Gus Gibbs (0-3, R, BB), Martin Ward (1-3), Nathaneal Higgins (2-4, 2 B, RBI), Caleb Kearney (1-3, R), Brandon Cook (1-3), Mat Buntin (2-3, RBI), and Cole Richardson (0-2, BB, SB). Also in the game were Dakota Head, Dillon Chamness, and Tyler Owens.

Benton is coached by Brett Blondi. Chris Head, Mike Ward, and Bobby Blondi are the assistant coaches. Keith Chamness is the scorekeeper.

DuQuoin Coach Tim Craft had these comments after the game: "It was a good first game of the year. Camdon Mercier got more and more comfortable on the mound as the game went on, and he kept getting stronger. I thought all game, we put together really good at bats. We were able to break through in the fifth inning. Camdon's home run was a big lift for us. It is a great start to the season."

DuQuoin plays two games on Saturday with Herrin at home. Game time is 11:00 a.m.