Martin Oil started scoring early and kept the runs coming to bury Sheetz 14-3 in five innings on Friday night at Prospect.
The Bellwood-Antis based squad scored five times in the first before Sheetz had a chance to bat, them quickly added four more runs in the second, three in the third and scored single tallies in the fourth and fifth to put the 10-run mercy Rule in effect after Sheetz batted in the bottom of the fifth.
Dustin Harris opened the ballgame with a single to right and stole second base. Andy Brisbin, Matt Albright and Ryan McCartney then slammed back-to-back-to-back doubles with each two bagger knocking in a run. Brisbin connected to right, Albright to left center and McCartney down the third base line. Chris Alley drove in McCartney with a single and with two outs, Ryan Kenawell also singled to drive in Alley for a fast five-spot.
“It was nice to score some runs early and be ahead in a ballgame for a change,” commented Martin Oil manager Ed Davis. “The kids are starting to hit a little bit, hopefully it will keep going.”
Sheetz came back to score a pair of runs, one unearned to slice the lead to 5-2. Justin Adams drove in the second tally with the only hit of the inning scoring Matt Massaro, who had reached on an error.
Martin Oil, which sent nine batters to the plate in the first, started all over again in the second. With one down, Brisbin walked and Albright rapped his second double of the game to move him to third. Cubby McCartney got Brisbin home with a sacrifice fly, Alley singled in Bill Luke, courtesy running for Albright and Kyle Drost helped himself out at bat by drilling a two-run home run down the line in left.
Drost turned in a great outing on the mound, tossing the complete-game victory to improve his record and Martin Oil’s to 2-1. After pitching in relief in both of Martin Oil’s first two games, the 16-year old right-hander allowed three runs, two earned on just two hits. Drost fanned eight hitters and walked two in his first start of the year.
“Another great pitching performance today by Kyle Drost,” said Davis. “He is just a 16-year old kid, who gave us five solid innings and only gave up a couple of hits. This was really a nice job. He is starting to come into his own.”
Martin Oil scored a solo run in the fourth when Drost walked, stole second base and scored on a clutch two-out single by Dan Graham, and another in the top of the fifth when Brisbin led off with a walk, moved up to second on a wild pitch and third on a groundout and came home on Alley’s third hit of the game. Martin Oil then loaded the bases on walks to Drost and Mark DelGrosso, but left all three stranded.
“Chris Alley had three hits,” said Davis, “Andy Brisbin and Matt Albright each had a couple of hits today. Ryan Kenawell had two hits, Danny Graham batted for the first time this year and got two hits. Of course, Drost had that big two-run homer. We played pretty solid defense. If the kids can keep playing defense and we get some pitching, I think the hitting will stay around and we should do all right.”
Matt Massaro doubled in the third to drive in Sheetz’s final tally of the contest.
Martin Oil will receive a forfeit for their scheduled game with Dick’s Pharmacy at 5 p.m. Saturday at Vets Field. Next up for Martin Oil will be a Memorial Day game at Bellwood against Tyrone Legion. Weather permitting, game time will be 6 p.m.
