For 32 years, Robert Shields has faced just about everything one can imagine as baseball coach at Bridgeport High School. For the first time ever, Mother Nature threw him a curve ball this year he’s not seen.

 

“Prior to our first game last Thursday we only had two outside practices and counting our games we’ve only been outside four times and we’re in the second week of April,” said Shields. “There’s never been anything close to that in my time here.”

 

The only blessing?

 

“We’re not the only ones dealing with weather, but I can tell you problems from it have shown early,” said Shields.

 

Shields said his team showed some rust in the opener and it nearly cost the club the game in what turned into an 11-7 win in eight innings. After five innings of solid play behind strong pitching from Tim Via in the first four frames and a 4-1 lead, the Indians’ fell apart defensively in the bottom of the sixth in their season opener at North Marion.

 

The Tribe committed four errors in the decisive frame and the Huskies pounced. By the time the inning was over, BHS found itself down 7-4.

 

“The concerns weren’t the errors, which you don’t want, but that they came on routine plays. It wasn’t like it was a bunch of difficult balls hit to us forcing a hurried throw,” said Shields. “They were basically routine plays.”

 

The good news? With just three outs left to make up the deficit, the Indians did just that. The Tribe got a pair of walks to lead off the inning before designated hitter Drew Harbert stepped to the plate. With one swing of the bat, Harbert knotted the game up with a shot to left field that put the game into extra innings.

 

“The one positive, and I know we’ll be in the position again because it happens to every team, is that we had our backs against the wall and we responded,” said Shields. “Drew’s shot was impressive after he got a pitch he liked. He’s a strong kid and he really got a hold of it.”

 

BHS loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with a single and back-to-back bunts that allowed the runners to reach. An RBI walk, a runner stealing home, a Vincenzo Cava double and a sacrifice fly led to the four-run outburst that was the difference in the game.

 

Shields said his team finished with four errors. He added that they struck out 11 times.

 

“That’s a recipe for disaster,” said Shields. “I was thankful to get the win.”

 

Ryan Goff got the win in relief. He pitched two innings for the Tribe.

 

Koby Kiefer, Brice Haines, Chapin Murphy, and Cava all had two hits as part of the Indians’ 10-hit attack. 

 

On Friday, Bridgeport got in a doubleheader at home against Liberty. The Indians managed to sweep the games by scores of 16-6 and 10-0. Both games were shortened due to the 10-run mercy rule.

 

Bridgeport blew a 5-1 lead in the first game as the Mountaineers scored four runs in the fourth to even up the game. BHS responded with seven runs in the bottom of the same frame and added four more in the sixth to end it early.

 

While the Indians only allowed three hits in the game, Shields wasn’t happy with the pitching.

 

“We walked 14 batters and still won. Again, that’s a recipe for disaster,” he said. “We keep doing that and we won’t be where we want to be at the end of the year.”

 

Chapin Murphy got the win in one inning of work. He came on in relief.

 

BHS did pound out 14 hits in the game. Via led the way with three base hits. Kiefer, Haines, Harbert, Ethan Perry and Murphy added two more hits apiece in the win. Haines’ total included a home run, while Murphy belted a double.

 

In the second game, Shields got a little more of what he was hoping for, and he had Kiefer to thank for it. The senior went the distance in a one-hitter in the 10-0 nightcap win.

 

“Koby had seven strikeouts and was ahead of every batter,” said Shields. “When you get behind in counts you walk batters and get in trouble. We didn’t have any errors, but Koby got seven of the 15 outs on strikeouts.”

 

The Indians’ game Monday with Lewis County was postponed due to weather. The Tribe will be back in action today against Philip Barbour at home starting at 4:30 p.m. The team will visit red-hot East Fairmont Wednesday at the same time in a game that was originally set to be played on Thursday. The team will host the annual McDonald’s Classic Friday and Saturday. That schedule will be out later this week on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Editor's Note: Photos from the Tribe's season-opening games by www.benqueenphotography.com.