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OAKWOOD — Both Oakwood and Danville baseball teams were looking for a good start to the second week of the season.
But it was the Comets that would get that start in the first inning. Oakwood had 10 runs in the inning and would go on to a 16-1 win over the Vikings at Oakwood City Park.
“We needed that. We have a young group that played some good teams already and they have learned by fire,” Oakwood coach Ryan McFarland said. “We have some young guys who are trying to figure things out. Last night’s game was tough against Unity and it was great to get back and play well.
“We talked about that we have to come out focused and be ready to go. We haven’t really had a real good first or second inning and it was nice to see them focused off the bat.”
Oakwood started the scoring with an RBI single by Chase Harrison, an fielder’s choice would bring in Harrison, Loudyn Hughes had an RBI single, Weston Frazier had an RBI dingle, Brandt Hobick brought in two runs on a single, Bryson Marcinko had an RBI single, Harrison brought in another run and Jackson Dudley would bring in the two final runs of the inning with a single.
In the second inning, Danville pitcher Liam Enyeart was able to hold the Comets scoreless and in the third, the Vikings would score their only run of the game on a single by Brody Boyd.
It was a highlight for the young Danville team, who had not scored a run in the first week in losses against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin and Mahomet-Seymour.
“It’s tough, but we are trying to keep positive,” Danville coach Mike Dokey said. “We had two freshman kids pitch today and they threw strikes. We know we are going to take our lumps. We are playing against juniors and seniors and it is like us playing North Ridge (Middle School). The mental mistakes are what we have to work on more and that comes with experience.”
But in the bottom of the third, the Comets scored with a fielder’s choice that would score Hobick and then Enyeart walked Carsen Dudley with the bases loaded to bring in Xander Wilson, a wild pitch would bring in Jackson Dudley and Carsen Dudley would score on a passed ball.
“We had the bases loaded with one out and we got the ball that we wanted but our catcher didn’t have his foot on the plate and then we dropped a ball,” Dokey said. “We gave them four runs and with a team like them, who hits the ball, you can’t give them that.”
The Comets put the game away in the fourth when winning pitcher Cam Harris drove in Wilson with a single and Carsen Dudley would bring in Harris with a single for the final score of the game.
The sophomore Harris had six strikeouts to get the win for Oakwood in what McFarland called a major confidence boost for him and the younger players in the roster.
“He had a rough start against Casey and we told him to get back on the horse and he responded,” McFarland said. “We have three freshmen and three sophomores in the lineup. We have some veterans as well, but we mostly have kids who are just starting. The seniors got things started today and the kids were able to follow up on that.”
Jackson Dudley and Carsen Dudley each had three RBIs for the Comets, while Harrison and Hobick each had two and Marcinko, Harris, Hughes and Frazier each had one.
Boyd and Alex McQuown each had a hit for Danville, while Enyeart pitched 2 2/3 innings with Tate McLoughlin pitching the rest of the way.
Dokey said that with the youth of the team, this season will be one of learning as the Vikings continue to grow.
“We are getting better in each game and our goals is to teach them everything we can for the next year and to get better each game and not get discouraged,” Dokey said. “We have a five-man rotation and I didn’t expect that to have kids throw strikes early, so we will be alright and we will get there. They are getting thrown to the wolves real quick but they are learning.”
For the Comets, they are 2-3 after a three-game losing streak which saw them play Casey-Westfield, Arcola and Unity.
“Arcola is loaded and Unity and Casey are pretty good,” McFarland said. “We also play Monticello and Reed-Custer this week and next week we play Paxton and Marshall. The only way to get ready for the VVC is to play good teams. Westville is going to be a load, Salt Fork is going to be a load, Hoopeston is not going to be easy, Bismarck is going to be a load and Milford is going to be a load. So you have to go out and get ready.”
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But it was the Comets that would get that start in the first inning. Oakwood had 10 runs in the inning and would go on to a 16-1 win over the Vikings at Oakwood City Park.
“We needed that. We have a young group that played some good teams already and they have learned by fire,” Oakwood coach Ryan McFarland said. “We have some young guys who are trying to figure things out. Last night’s game was tough against Unity and it was great to get back and play well.
“We talked about that we have to come out focused and be ready to go. We haven’t really had a real good first or second inning and it was nice to see them focused off the bat.”
Oakwood started the scoring with an RBI single by Chase Harrison, an fielder’s choice would bring in Harrison, Loudyn Hughes had an RBI single, Weston Frazier had an RBI dingle, Brandt Hobick brought in two runs on a single, Bryson Marcinko had an RBI single, Harrison brought in another run and Jackson Dudley would bring in the two final runs of the inning with a single.
In the second inning, Danville pitcher Liam Enyeart was able to hold the Comets scoreless and in the third, the Vikings would score their only run of the game on a single by Brody Boyd.
It was a highlight for the young Danville team, who had not scored a run in the first week in losses against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin and Mahomet-Seymour.
“It’s tough, but we are trying to keep positive,” Danville coach Mike Dokey said. “We had two freshman kids pitch today and they threw strikes. We know we are going to take our lumps. We are playing against juniors and seniors and it is like us playing North Ridge (Middle School). The mental mistakes are what we have to work on more and that comes with experience.”
But in the bottom of the third, the Comets scored with a fielder’s choice that would score Hobick and then Enyeart walked Carsen Dudley with the bases loaded to bring in Xander Wilson, a wild pitch would bring in Jackson Dudley and Carsen Dudley would score on a passed ball.
“We had the bases loaded with one out and we got the ball that we wanted but our catcher didn’t have his foot on the plate and then we dropped a ball,” Dokey said. “We gave them four runs and with a team like them, who hits the ball, you can’t give them that.”
The Comets put the game away in the fourth when winning pitcher Cam Harris drove in Wilson with a single and Carsen Dudley would bring in Harris with a single for the final score of the game.
The sophomore Harris had six strikeouts to get the win for Oakwood in what McFarland called a major confidence boost for him and the younger players in the roster.
“He had a rough start against Casey and we told him to get back on the horse and he responded,” McFarland said. “We have three freshmen and three sophomores in the lineup. We have some veterans as well, but we mostly have kids who are just starting. The seniors got things started today and the kids were able to follow up on that.”
Jackson Dudley and Carsen Dudley each had three RBIs for the Comets, while Harrison and Hobick each had two and Marcinko, Harris, Hughes and Frazier each had one.
Boyd and Alex McQuown each had a hit for Danville, while Enyeart pitched 2 2/3 innings with Tate McLoughlin pitching the rest of the way.
Dokey said that with the youth of the team, this season will be one of learning as the Vikings continue to grow.
“We are getting better in each game and our goals is to teach them everything we can for the next year and to get better each game and not get discouraged,” Dokey said. “We have a five-man rotation and I didn’t expect that to have kids throw strikes early, so we will be alright and we will get there. They are getting thrown to the wolves real quick but they are learning.”
For the Comets, they are 2-3 after a three-game losing streak which saw them play Casey-Westfield, Arcola and Unity.
“Arcola is loaded and Unity and Casey are pretty good,” McFarland said. “We also play Monticello and Reed-Custer this week and next week we play Paxton and Marshall. The only way to get ready for the VVC is to play good teams. Westville is going to be a load, Salt Fork is going to be a load, Hoopeston is not going to be easy, Bismarck is going to be a load and Milford is going to be a load. So you have to go out and get ready.”
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