For the Daily Journal
Indian Creek hit three home runs and collected six extra-base hits, but that wasn’t enough as the Braves dropped a 10-8 decision to Edgewood at home in baseball Wednesday.
The Braves did all their damage in the first three innings, jumping out to an 8-4 lead. But the bats went silent after that, while the pitching failed to hold Edgewood at bay. The result was Indian Creek’s first loss on the season.
“That was hard to watch. We just didn’t play our best baseball,” Indian Creek coach Steve Mirizzi said. “Hats off to (Edgewood); they fought for seven innings and they never gave up. You’ve got to play every single out in this game and can’t coast when you get the lead. I’m a little bit disappointed.”
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryEdgewood (3-1, 1-1 WIC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning, hitting Indian Creek starter Dustin Sprong hard to the tune of four hits, including a two-run home run by Ryan Stufle.
But the Braves fought back. Wyatt Phillips hit the first of Indian Creek’s home runs in the bottom of the first and he added a second homer — his fifth of the season — an inning later. Dawson Read added a two-run shot of his own in the second to put Indian Creek ahead 6-4.
Back-to-back walks followed by Sprong’s two-run double in the third staked the Braves to an 8-4 lead.
But Sprong’s hit proved to be the last that Indian Creek would collect. Edgewood got a run back in the fourth then punished reliever Phillips with five runs in the fifth — on five hits and two walks — to take a 10-8 lead.
Indian Creek (4-1, 2-1) didn’t threaten to score after the third. The only baserunners the Braves had over the final four innings were on an error and a walk, and neither reached second.
“They definitely shut it down. It’s disappointing. Our offense is capable of putting up more runs than that,” Mirizzi said. “They just did a good job of keeping us off balance and mixing it up and not allowing us to get a good piece of it.”
Sprong didn’t have his best stuff and allowed five runs — four earned — on five hits in four innings with four strikeouts and four walks. Phillips got the loss in relief after allowing five runs on six hits in three innings with four strikeouts and two walks.
“Both of our guys didn’t look like they were on their top stuff,” Mirizzi said. “It’s disappointing to see our pitchers not at their best. But that’s just baseball.”
Curtis Cowden picked up the win with five innings in relief for Edgewood.
Sprong went 3 for 4 with a triple, a double and two RBIs to lead Indian Creek’s nine-hit attack. Luke Bramlett added a double for the Braves.
Indian Creek returns to action Saturday when it travels to Northview.
