Independence’s bats came alive in a 21-10 win over Crestwood in a Chagrin Valley Conference crossover game on Thursday.
The Blue Devils pounded out 15 hits, which included five that went for extra bases.
“The bats woke up for sure after being a little cooler earlier in the week and we were glad to see that,” said Independence coach Jim Crooks. “That goes for everybody on the team, the entire lineup. The bats woke up.”
Leadoff hitter Mike Andryszczyk led the charge as he was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a triple, two walks, and he knocked in five runs.
“He puts the bat on the ball,” Crooks said. “He’s fast as greased lightning. It’s going to be hard to keep him off of third base this year.”
Andryszczyk led off the bottom of the first with a single and then he stole his way to third. Casey McGhee drew a walk and Ashton Lerz singled home the first run of the game. Rory Corrigan, the winning pitcher, helped his cause with an RBI double. Cy Jolliffe and Luke Pascarella followed with back-to-back one-out singles. Charlie McGreal was hit by a pitch and Andryszczyk added another single before the third out was recorded.
The Red Devils scored two runs on a pair of singles and a double in the bottom of the second but the Blue Devils went on to score five runs in the third, three in the fourth, two in the fifth and invoked the run-rule with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Lerz finished the game 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI. Corrigan and Evan Beacher both had two hits with one two-bagger each.
Corrigan earned the pitching victory. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out two in three innings.
Max Tarnowski, McGreal, and Andryszczyk also threw for the Blue Devils. Andryszczyk struck out four in 1 1/3 innings of work.
“We decided that we were going to pitch some guys who don’t see a lot of action in the conference, because this was a crossover game and we had an opportunity to throw some guys out there and they did a great job,” Crooks said. “They worked out of some situations and threw strikes. Rory started the game and threw strikes and that helps. Tarnowski, there’s a guy who, threw a couple innings for us and he did a great job in the first few innings. He threw strikes and battled. I was proud of Charlie McGreal. He had a great defensive game, and he also came in and pitched for us and did a good job throwing strikes.”
Tristen Addis and Kyle Gregel both had a pair of hits for the Red Devils.
