Wingenter’s no-hitter highlights BJHS series sweep over Austin
Saturday morning, the Bob Jones baseball team traveled to Decatur and won the first game of a doubleheader 5-1 to complete a key series sweep over Austin in class 6A, Area 15 play.
Friday night at Patriot Field there were more than just students and fans in attendance. Scouts from at least two major league baseball teams were watching as Bob Jones faced Austin. They were there to see pitcher Trey Wingenter and he gave them a show as the Patriots won in five innings 10-0.
Wingenter sailed through the first four innings so fast the game was almost over as some fans were still arriving. Working effortlessly, Wingenter had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning as Bob Jones led 9-0. A grounder to shortstop Matt Bolger was bobbled and the throw was off line but the play was ruled an error instead of a hit. The play was the closest thing to a hit Austin managed all night. After retiring the final batter on a strikeout, the crowd sensed they had seen the last of Wingenter for the evening with Bob Jones needing only a run to end the game. That run came when Patrick Mullin singled to rightfield and Mason Throneberry scored to end the game the next half inning.
Wingenter finished with 9 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter. His record is now 7-0 and his ERA dropped to 0.17. At the plate he added a long 2-run home run in the third inning after the Patriots had pushed 4 runs across in the bottom of the first inning. In the bottom of the fourth inning Matt Sanders singled off the third baseman to score Matt Bolger and Nate Nelson.
Wingenter said he knew major league scouts were at the game.
“Some of them keep in contact with me and ask when I am pitching and some just show up. They talk to Coach Bell. I knew there were scouts here and it feels good to throw a no-hitter, it is my first in high school.”
Coach Jeff Bell said that Wingenter is efficient with his pitches and can easily go into the 90’s on his pitch count.
“I thought he threw the ball well tonight. He needed the work. His stamina might not have been what it usually is because he had been sick a couple of days. He ended up throwing about 60 pitches. We feel good with him going about 90 or 100 pitches.”
“I thought he had a little trouble commanding the strike zone early. But he’s just special. We all feel great when he’s out there. We feel we got a great chance to win,” Bell said
Wingenter said he needed to work the full five innings to “keep me in rhythm for next week and the rest of the season to come. I felt good. I feel like I’m in shape and strong in the late innings just as good as the first inning.”
Hitting stars of the game were Nate Nelson and Matt Bolger who scored 3 runs each, Matt Sanders who had 2 hits and Brent Elder who had 2 RBIs.
Saturday, Charlie Weaver got the ball and responded with one of his best outings of the season as he ran his record to 7-0 in the 5-1 victory. Over 6 innings he allowed no runs and scattered 4 hits while striking out 4.
“I was really mixing my cutter in there pretty well today,” said Weaver. “I worked ahead in most counts and got nine ground ball outs and one double play so that helped to keep my pitch count low.”
“It was a great week, we got a lot accomplished,” said the senior Weaver who could now look forward to the Junior/Senior Prom Saturday night. “We’re going to enjoy Prom tonight and come back to work next week because we got Florence.”
Closer Austin May pitched the seventh inning and allowed one run. It was the first run Bob Jones has allowed in 4 area games.
The Patriots have out scored their opponents 31-1 in area games.
The number that means the most to coach Bell are the Patriots Area 15 record which now stands at 4-0 and 24-4 overall. Wingenter will get the ball again next Friday night at Florence as the weekend series will wrap up Area 15 play. The playoffs start April 20-21.
