Bob Jones starts Area 15 play with sweep of Hazel Green
Matt Sanders pitches at Hazel Green on Saturday
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- After weeks of tournament games and practices, area play started Friday night for the Bob Jones baseball team. After struggling early in the season, the team hit their stride lately and it showed against Hazel Green as the Patriots pounded out 7 hits and scored nine runs to defeat Hazel Green 9-2 Friday night.
Grant Chandler got the start for Bob Jones and worked all seven innings allowing only one hit. Chandler is a senior who will be depended on heavily this season.
“This is a good way to start area play,” Chandler said. “The season is a grind but now every game is playoff baseball. It was a big win for us to get the large run output. I am more anxious than nervous when I pitch but it’s a leadership role and I just go out and do the best for our team.”
Chandler, a JacksonvilleState signee as a pitcher, said that pitching with a lead always helps him.
“It takes some of the pressure off and I try to go right at the hitters and fill up the zone.”
Filling up the zone was what Chandler did as he recorded nine strikeouts and ran his record to 4-2.
“My curve ball wasn’t working as good as it has been so I stuck with my fastball and they couldn’t hit it. I mixed in some change ups.”
Grant Chandler
A two-run home run by Matt Sanders and an RBI groundout by Mike Bernier put Bob Jones up 3-0 in the first inning. Bob Jones added two runs in the third on an RBI single by Trey Ward and Collin Dupree scored on an error. Hazel Green got single runs in the third and fourth inning.
Bob Jones put the game away with four in the sixth inning on a bases-loaded double by Nathan Burch.
Saturday afternoon the Patriots travelled to Hazel Green and posted a 10-3 win. They got four runs in the second and seventh innings and two in the sixth. Matt Sanders threw a complete game and at the plate went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and scored 2 runs. Grant Chandler had a two run double and Nathan Burch had two hits and an RBI.
Bob Jones is in one of the toughest areas in the state with Sparkman and Buckhorn both ranked in the top ten. Bob Jones and Hazel Green are unranked.
“It’s a tough region, probably the toughest in the state but we’re just taking it one game at a time,” Chandler said.
Bob Jones coach David Langston was pleased with the team’s victories to start area play.
“It’s good to be 2-0 from where we were at a couple weeks ago,” Langston said after the Saturday win. “Last night we played really well. Grant pitched great and we did some nice things offensively. Today we had 10 hits and 10 runs. Matt was throwing his fastball for strikes and forced them to hit the ball fortunately right at some guys.”
Bob Jones will go to Gulf Shores for a tournament next week. Langston said he will use the games to work some younger guys while getting his key players some work to keep them sharp. In the second game of the doubleheader against Hazel Green he did just that throwing Luke Whaley with Eric Deaton behind the plate.
“We are still working on improving and learning the little things that will help us win close games like 3-2 when we get in the tough area game which we will face when we get back from spring break,” Langston said.
Buckhorn will be first up on April 4-5.
