It is still relatively early in Bridgeport’s baseball season, but after a season-opening loss, things are looking a lot better. After a recent tournament hosted by Bridgeport, the Indians stand at 7-1 on the year.

 

Although Bridgeport had won three straight games heading into the weekend Connect-Bridgeport Classic this past weekend, the wins in the two-day tournament were more than just casually impressive. The Tribe steamrolled their foes on their way to a 4-0 mark in the tourney.

 

“Eight games into the season and we’re coming together and learning the team concept, which wasn’t there after being a year off and having a new group,” said Coach Robert Shields. “It’s coming along and getting closer, but the execution of certain things is lacking.

 

“We laid down some bunts and did a few things that can make the difference in games, but we still need to be better,” he continued. “Execution is critical as the competition gets more difficult and the season wears on.”

 

A preview of what was to come came against Preston in the opener. The Indians not only won 15-0 in five innings, but the one-two pitching punch of Austin Mann and Cam Cole combined to no-hit the Knights.

 

Mann went four innings, walked three and struck out 10 to get the win. Cole went the final inning with no walks and struck out two of the three batters he faced.

 

“For the conditions we had to play in it’s even more impressive, especially with Austin,” said Shields. “His walks were in the first inning or it could have been a perfect game. The ball was wet from the heavy rain … It came down pretty good, but we played through it and handled it pretty well.”

 

PHS’s pitching struggled as the team allowed 12 walks that aided the Tribe’s six base hits. No BHS batter had more than one hit.

 

The next game did not prove to be as impressive – but it was awfully close. Chris Harbert and Cole combined on a two-hit shutout to get a 9-0 win against Madonna.

 

Harbert gave up two hits, two walks and struck out six. Cole did not walk a batter and struck out one in two spotless innings of relief.

 

Bridgeport pounded out 10 hits in the win. Nate Paulsen and Anthony Dixon led the way with two hits each with Paulsen having two doubles and Dixon one. Frank Why had a double in the game, while Phil Reed had a two-run home run for the hosts.

 

On Saturday, BHS got two more wins – both in six innings. This time, however, the pitching staff allowed the other teams to get runs across the plate.

 

The Tribe took out Hedgesville 14-4 in the first game. The team then game back to beat Washington 12-2 in the second affair.

 

Dixon was the winning pitcher for Bridgeport against HHS with a four-inning effort that included five strikeouts and walk, along with yield four hits and a run. Ryan Goff pitched the final two frames and gave up three runs on one hit and a walk, while striking out two.

 

The Tribe had 13 hits in the game. Paulsen led the way with three hits that included a home run and a double. Frank Why and Hogue both added two hits. Gabe Ross had a double, Max Harbert a triple, and Ryan Goff smacked a home run in the victory.

 

In the win against Washington, Ben McDougal went the first three frames to earn the win by allowing no runs and two hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Max Harbert pitched the final three frames and yielded two runs on three hits with no walks and a trio of strikeouts.

 

BHS took advantage of eight walks and 10 walks to score its 12 runs.

 

Drew Bailey, Conner Buffington, and Drew Hogue all collected doubles in the win.

 

“I’m really pleased with our pitching. We’ve used eight kids to date in eight games to get a look early at everyone. They’ve handled themselves on the mound well,” said Shields. “The pitching has helped us get through things early. When you can count on your pitching, the way we’re scoring runs, which has been in little surges, it adds up and has got us wins in this part of the season.”

 

Bridgeport was back in action today against Buckhannon-Upshur at Frank Loria Field at 4:30 p.m. The team will play University at 4:30 p.m. at Frank Loria Field in games that need to be played to help determine sectional seeding.

 

Editor's Note: Photos from the Connect-Bridgeport Classic by Joey Signorelli of Ben Queen Photography.