Blackhawks Baseball Team Starts Season as WEMO Champs

The Adrian Blackhawks baseball team started the season on the right foot winning three games and claiming the WEMO conference tournament championship.

The Blackhawks entered the tournament as the #1 seed and took on the Rich Hill Tigers.    Adrian fell behind early 2-1 in the first inning.   Tanner Pitts took control of the game from the mound shutting down the Tiger batters striking out ten batters over the next three innings before giving up another run in the top of the fifth.

The Adrian bats came alive three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead and added one the following inning to seal the 5-3 victory and escape the first round.  Colton Lovejoy relieved Pitts in the final inning giving up one hit while striking out one.

"I am proud of the guys for grinding out a win and getting the first win of the yer against a quality opponent" said head coach Caleb Noland.

Adrian squared off with the Osceola Indians in the second game of the tournament. The Blackhawks jumped all over the Indians in the first two innings scoring four runs in the bottom of the opening frame and three in the second.  They added one more run in the fourth inning before surrendering a run to Osceola in each of the final two innings of the game.

Chase Dillon-Newport was two for three at the plate hitting two doubles and driving in a pair of runs.  Colton Lovejoy pitched a solid game giving up just three hits and no earned runs while striking out ten.

"We did a good job of jumping out to the lead but we need to learn how to finish teams off instead of letting them hang around once that happens" said head coach Caleb Noland.

The wins against Rich Hill and Osceola  put Adrian into the championship game against the Archie Whirlwinds.  The Blackhawks put three runs on the board in the first inning  to take the early lead.  Adrian added five more in the third before delivering the knock-out blow with six runs in the fourth.   Adrian won the championshionship game going away 14-3.

Tanner Pitts was 2 for 3 with three RBI's.  Ethan Bethurem was 1-1 with two walks.    Ethan scored three runs and drove in two RBI's .   Wade Cumpton pitched all four innings with four strikeouts.

Head Coach Caleb Noland was pleased with the team's performance.  "We came out and played our philosophy of baseball.   Our kids have bought in and played well all weekend.  It's a great start to the season."