ACCIDENT — Rush Services pounced early against a short-handed Growden Heating & Cooling on their way to a run-rule victory.
Rush bounced back from its loss to Grantsville last week to rout Growden 13-1 in a Senior Division Hot Stove game on Monday at Northern High School
Growden was short-handed in the game and played with only eight.
“Very good game for us on both sides of the ball,” said Rush head coach Wayne Miles. “This is a tough time of year with vacations and everything with the kids, so they were a little short.
“All in all we played a very good game and got the job done.”
Rush scored early and often, plating 10 runs in the first two innings.
Hunter Livengood got it started for Rush in the first inning, singling with the bases loaded and driving in three runs with the help of an error by the left fielder. Rush led 5-0 by the end of the inning.
With Rush’s advantage at 7-0 in the second, Cayden Frazee doubled with runners on second and third to collect two RBIs. Frazee was later driven in by Emmitt Lipscomb to stretch the lead to 10-0.
“You know it’s tough when you only have eight guys,” said Growden head coach TJ Hook. “Pitching we did alright, our fielding really hurt us tonight. We made several errors in every inning.
“The group that was here tonight, that was my core group. I appreciate them showing up even knowing that we only have eight guys, you know they still made it out and gave their best effort.”
Trailing 13-0 in the top of the fifth, Growden plated their only run of the game on an A.J. Bascelli single that scored Nick Brown, though it would not be enough to stave off the fifth-inning run-rule.
Growden was led at the plate by Bascelli, who had two singles and drove in the team’s only run of the day. Brown had a single and a run, while Christian Riley collected a single and a walk.
Riley started on the mound and took the loss for Growden, pitching two innings. He surrendered 10 runs, nine hits and three walks while striking out three.
Brown followed Riley and pitched Growden’s final two innings in the field, giving up three runs, two hits, three walks and one hit batter. He struck out two.
Every hitter for Rush collected at least one hit in the victory.
Brady Green led Rush at the plate with two hits, one walk, three RBIs and two runs. Also, Livengood contributed one hit, one walk, two RBIs and three runs, while Frazee had two hits, two RBIs and a run.
Nick Riley had one double, one RBI and three runs in the win.
Jake Wampler started for Rush and went the distance in a five-inning complete game. He surrendered one run on four hits and three walks. He struck out seven batters.
Rush improves their record to 8-2-1. They return to action on Wednesday, when they play a doubleheader against Grantsville at Grantsville Park. Game 1 starts at 6 p.m.
Growden falls to 4-11. This concludes their regular season.