KENTON -- Defiance opened Western Buckeye League baseball play with an 11-1 road victory over Kenton on Tuesday, behind a dominating pitching performance from junior righty Rob Zeigler.
Zeigler (2-0) allowed no runs, one walk and just two hits, while striking out 11 in six innings of work. Dom Gentile finished off the victory for the Bulldogs.
"Robbie has been throwing well so far this spring, but today he had the best pop he's had on his fastball," stated Defiance coach Tom Held. "He was consistently around 87 to 88 miles per hour, but he threw a couple around 92. Add in the fact he had a good breaking ball and he that he mixed in his change-up, it was easy to see why he was tough on hitters today."
The Bulldogs (6-0, 1-0 WBL), who won their 51st straight league game, didn't break it open until the sixth inning, pushing across three runs to move in front, 8-0. Defiance turned to small-ball to do it.
Four straight bunts by Austin Hancock, Dom Gentile, Jacob Moore and Alex Smith after Nic Vittorio had been hit by a pitch to start the frame led to the three runs for the visitors.
"We took advantage of some walks early to get the lead, but in the sixth we turned to the bunt and we were able to score three big runs there," Held said. "It was still a close game at that time, so scoring those gave us some room to breathe.
"Coming over here after almost losing to Kenton two years ago, we knew it wasn't going to be easy," added Held. "They played us tough again today, but Robbie was just too much for them on the hill."
Anthony Kidston led Defiance with two doubles, Joe Gentile had a pair of singles, Zeigler doubled and Hancock finished with a single and double.
"Joe is seeing the ball better, and Anthony is swinging it pretty well, although he's not in mid-season form yet," concluded Held. "Austin got a couple of big hits today too, and Jacob Moore may not have gotten a hit today, but he's doing the little things we need him to do at the top of the order."
Defiance returns to action on Thursday at 5 p.m. in WBL play on the road at Elida.
Linescore
Defiance 211 013 3 - 11 8 1
Kenton 000 000 1 - 1 2 2
Records: Defiance 6-0 (1-0 WBL), Kenton 0-6, (0-1 WBL).
Winning pitcher: Rob Zeigler (6 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 11 strikeouts, 1 walk). Other: Dom Gentile.
Losing pitcher: Rawlins (6 1/3 innings, 11 runs, 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, 6 walks). Other: Shark.
Leading hitters: (Defiance, 8 hits) - Kidston 2 doubles; Gentile 2 singles; Zeigler double; Hancock single, double. (Defiance, 8 hits) - Anthony Kidston 2 doubles; Joe Gentile 2 singles; Rob Zeigler double; Austin Hancock single, double. (Kenton, 2 hits).