Bears back to .500 with three wins
Bears prepare for the Dragons of Warren Central. Butler County made easy work of the visitors. PHOTO | Greg Moore
By Greg Moore
Banner Sports Editor
Baseball was on full display this past week in Morgantown; the Butler County Bears hosted Caverna, Todd-Central, Ohio County, and Warren Central in what nearly was a four-win week. After blitzing Caverna on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday games with Todd and Ohio were nail-bitters, before another blowout win over Warren Central to finish the week on Friday.
It only took five innings for the Bears to drop Caverna, 13-0. Garrett Phelps went two innings in the start on the bump with Justin Castlen doing most of the work from there. Phelps recorded five strikeouts and Castlen fanned seven over 2.2 innings. Will Amos struck out the only batter he faced.
Duncan Tyree had three hits and two runs batted in. Amos drove in two on a single, also. Brycen Mode reached home three times and Castlen and Eli Oaks plated twice, apiece. The Bears, who stole six bags, was led by Mason West’s two stolen bases.
Eli Oaks eyes the ball into his glove while holding down the hot corner. PHOTO | Greg Moore
After the easy Colonels win, the Bears squandered an excellent effort from Brayden Clark on the hill against Todd. Clark held the Rebels to three hits over six strong; but the visitors rallied to score four in the seventh to win, 5-3. Castlen had two hits and three stolen bases in the loss. Brock Henderson, Clark, and Mode produce the only other hits for Butler County.
Castlen was the man of the spotlight in Thursday night’s thriller with Ohio County. His game-winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth gave the Bears a 6-5 victory, which had three Bears collecting multiple hits, including Castlen. Mode led the way with two singles and a double while Sam Hyatt ripped a double and single.
Phelps worked extensively on the mound, going five innings before Hyatt got the call for the sixth and seventh. Coach West turned it over to Oaks, who did not allow a baserunner in the last two frames, to get the win for the Bears.
Warren Central, like Caverna, still yet to score a run on the season, allowed Coach West some flexibility to position 13 different players all throughout with 11 of them garnering at least a hit or run but many had both in the 16-0, shortened, three-inning contest.
Mode paced the Bears with two doubles while driving in four baserunners. West, who started pitching, drove in two runs on two hits at the dish. Amos was credited with three RBI’s. West, who picked up the win, struck out three and got around two free passes plus a hit to somehow not allow the Dragons to score. Mode overpowered the visitors with five strikeouts, allowing only one baserunner over the last two innings.
Will Amos crosses home in the 13-0 win over the Colonels of Caverna. PHOTO | Greg Moore
The Bears (4-4) will host Warren East this Thursday after Glasgow comes to Morgantown on Monday. They will travel to Metcalfe County on Friday before a busy spring break week full of home games. Get out to support the Butler County Bears if you are not on the beach or in the mountains.
Upcoming home games for the Bears
Thu, Apr 3, 25 Warren East 5:30 PM
Mon, Apr 7, 25 Hart County 6:00 PM
Tue, Apr 8, 25 Gallatin County 9:00 AM
Thu, Apr 10, 25 Taylor County 3:00 PM
Fri, Apr 11, 25 Henry County 9:00 AM
