Derrick Webb, Reporter9:11 p.m. EDT April 16, 2016
CHILLICOTHE - After starting the season 2-2, the defending Scioto Valley Conference champions have seemingly righted the ship for good.
The Adena Warriors (8-2, 5-1 SVC) swept a twin bill at the expense of the Amanda-Clearcreek Aces in a Saturday doubleheader at VA Memorial Stadium. The 7-1 and 10-0 wins extended the Warriors' current win streak to six games.
"Our players were not happy with their performance the last time we lost," Adena coach Tom Barr said. "We understand that we didn't come out of the gate the way we need to to accomplish what we want to accomplish. This team is a close-knit group, but very competitive, so they challenge each other every day."
While the offense experienced an early-season slump, Adena's pitching has been right on par. That was once again the case Saturday as Gunnar Free and Jake Dawson combined to throw 13 innings of one-run baseball.
"Coach Chad Carroll, our pitching coach, has done a great job with this group. We've been very diligent about making certain that pitchers are getting their work in to be comfortable on the bump," Barr said. "Jake Dawson threw good in scrimmages, but hasn't pitched since. Today, Jake's first outing of the year, he comes out confident and understands that he needs to work ahead in the count, pitch to contact and let our defense do their jobs. Gunnar did the same thing, kept walks down, worked ahead of the hitters and made the hitters hit his pitches. The defense has been very solid overall, but should improve as the season continues."
In the first game, Free took the ball and got seven runs of support.
The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when leadoff hitter Collin Cory scored on an RBI groundout from Free, who was helping his own cause. The edge then grew to 3-0 in the fourth when Braden Wilburn scored on a JD Blevins RBI double before Blevins himself crossed home plate on a passed ball.
Amanda-Clearcreek's lone run came in the bottom of the fourth and wasn't charged to Free's ledger as the Aces scored on an error. The Warriors added one more in the sixth when Blevins knocked in Jonathan Thomas with an RBI single, making it 4-1. In the seventh, Adena scored three more for insurance purposes with an additional RBI being credited to Blevins, who finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored.
"Our guys are doing a much better job with pitch selection and understanding when we are in a position to wait on the pitch we want instead of just swinging the bat," Barr said. "We've dedicated more practice time to hitting and it's also very true that hitting is contagious."
Barr's theory was absolutely correct, as Adena put on an offensive clinic in the matinee contest.
The Warriors scored one in the first, four in the second, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth to seal the envelope on a 10-0 final.
Free (2-0) allowed just five hits and struck out three in the first victory while Dawson (1-0) allowed two hits, walked a pair, and fanned eight.
Aside from Blevins' performance in the first contest, Cory was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs while Thomas and Braden Wilburn each finished 2-for-3 with a run. In the second game, Cory was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs while Dawson went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Adena will try and win its seventh straight ballgame Monday night when the Warriors host the Piketon Redstreaks.
dwebb@chillicothegazette.com
Twitter: @dw1509
