JOHNSTOWN – Given where the Northridge baseball team has come from, every win is precious.
The Vikings hung on for dear life April 6 to continue their climb. Three pitchers escaped jams in the late innings, securing Northridge’s 2-1 victory against visiting Utica (1-5, 0-1) to begin Licking County League-Cardinal Division play and move to 4-0.
“It’s huge,” said junior right-hander Kash Reeves, who induced a groundout to third base with the bases loaded to end the game. “Sometimes you don’t always have your best stuff, and today I don’t think we did, but you have to dig deep. You have to find something in you and use what you can to pull out those big wins.”
Northridge won only three games in 2023 and one game a year later. The Vikings stepped up to a much more competitive eight victories a season ago and return much of that nucleus.
Junior Garrett Penrod is one key addition. The right-handed transfer from Johnstown struck out six in five three-hit scoreless innings.
“I don’t get very nervous when I am out there pitching,” Penrod said. “I just go out there, have fun and trust my defense behind me. Everyone is a good team player and picks each other up.”
Added Reeves: “I train with (Penrod) a lot outside of school ball, and I know what he is capable of. Having him is a big piece.”
Utica senior left-hander Braxton Fisher did his best to match Penrod, but two first-inning runs were enough to beat him as sophomore Collin Matheson and junior Riley Reeves each scored after walks to start the game. Penrod drove in Matheson with a groundout, and Reeves scored on a wild pitch.
Penrod tripled to lead off the fourth inning. Fisher, who struck out eight and allowed just two hits, however, sandwiched a popup and a comebacker around a strikeout to strand him.
“(Fisher) is what you expect out of a senior pitcher,” Utica coach Tyler Keith said. “Every time, he goes out there I know he is going to give us a chance to win. The defense made mistakes, but we bounced back from them.”
Penrod’s day ended with Kash Reeves and junior Noah Mason combining to start a 6-4-3 double play to end the fifth. Junior right-hander Sawyer Miller, working his way back from an injury earlier this spring, allowed a run in the sixth inning, but he also struck out three in his first appearance of the season.
Kash Reeves got two quick outs before his own error gave Utica life in the seventh. The bases eventually were loaded on a hit and a walk before he got the final out.
“We have concentrated a lot on changing the culture and changing the attitude,” said Northridge coach Dustin Calhoun, who has been the head football coach for three season and now is leading the baseball program. “That showed up. We were in a tight game, and (Utica) had opportunities to win. They had runners on, but we were able to pull it out. That comes from preparation and your attitude.”
Junior Gaige Spray led Utica with two singles and a walk, and classmates Aaron Hays added a single and a walk and Elijah Bland added a hit and a run. Fisher drove in the run with a single.
Four of Utica’s six games have been decided by one run.
“The boys don’t have any quit in them,” Keith said. “I have stood at third base four or five games now in the seven inning when we’ve had an opportunity. This team’s really good. We have a lot of talent. I look for us to be on the other end of these sooner than later.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Northridge baseball escapes against Utica to reach 4-0
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
