SMIDDY LEADS DEFIANCE PAST FINDLAY
Published:
FINDLAY -- Shay Smiddy picked up his first varsity hit and win in leading Defiance to an 11-2 win over Findlay on Thursday.
The DHS 6-4 sophomore had a two-out single to ignite a five-run second inning and the Bulldogs cruised in improving to 3-1.
"Shay took advantage of an opportunity," Defiance coach Tom Held said. "We were DHing for him (the first three games) giving older guys opportunities but we thought Shay deserved one and he too advantage."
Jacob Green brought in Smiddy with a triple for the first run of the game and Austin Hancock followed with a walk. Boo Sierra then loaded the bases with a free pass before Dom Gentile hit a two-strike two-run single. Derek Turner added an RBI single before Gentile tallied the fifth run of the inning on the back end of a double steal.
"That's the game of baseball," Held said of the five-run inning after two were gone and nobody on base. "Not only did Shay Smiddy get a two-out hit, but Dom was down 0-2 on the count and knocked in the second and third runs. It could very well have been a 0-0 game. That was definitely the difference and Shay got it all started."
Smiddy went on to pick up the victory going five innings allowing just one run on four hits with six strikeouts.
"He had pretty good command," Held said of Smiddy's first start on the mound. "I wouldn't say he had great stuff but he had a good breaking ball and kept the ball down. He was just solid for us. He competed and got the job done."
A three-run fourth helped the cause. Hancock led off with a double and Sierra reached on a bunt single and stole second. Gentile then ripped a two-run triple before scoring on a Turner ground out.
"Austin was struggling a little offensively so it was good to see him get a couple big hits," Held said of the DHS lead-off hitter who had a pair of doubles. "The same with Dom. They haven't been bad but not what we expected out of them. It was a good day for those guys."
Like Gentile, Jacob Green had a single and triple while Smiddy had a single and double.
"Jacob has been very consistent for us out of the nine-hole," Held added.
Defiance gets back into Western Buckeye League action today at Kenton before going to Bowling Green Saturday for a tri-battle with the host Bobcats and Bryan.
Linescore
Defiance 050 311 1 - 11 11 1
Findlay 000 011 0 - 2 6 2
Records: Defiance 3-1, Findlay 1-3.
Winning pitcher: Shay Smiddy (5 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Michael Hendricks.
Losing pitcher: Lino (32/3 innings, 8 runs, 7 hits 3 strikeouts, 4 walks. Others; Dowpker, Ortmann.
Leading hitters: (Defiance) - Austin Hancock 2 doubles; Dom Gentile single, triple; Shay Smiddy single, double; Jacob Green single, triple. (Findlay) - Rodman 2 singles.