Titans earn first 'W' of the season

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The Tri-County Titan Junior Legion baseball team traveled to Ainsworth, Thursday, July 7, for a double header vs. Ainsworth juniors. The Titans came away with a split in the double header, earning the first ever win in Tri-County baseball history. The win came in the first game by a score of 7-3.

Wyatt Shabram was the starting pitcher, throwing four and one-third innings of “nearly flawless pitching, including seven strikeouts,” according to head skipper Jeff Shabram.

William Drobny and Landon McAllister came in relief, holding Ainsworth to only two additional runs. The three pitchers combined for a no-hitter, as all Ainsworth runs came on walks and fielder's choices.

“The defensive effort for Tri-County was also top notch, especially considering many of the Titans were playing unfamiliar positions, with two starters absent from the game,” Shabram said.

Joseph Pavelka played a “marvelous third base and outfielders Isaac Pavlik, Kaiden Bauer and Keenan McAllister, along with Jake Schroeder were solid.”

Meanwhile, the Titan bats and baserunners were very active. Runs were scored by Connor Thomson, two; Schroeder, two; Shabram, one; Drobny, one; and Riley Saul, one.

“Everyone reached base and was aggressive with steals. It was an overall great team effort,” Shabram said.

Box score

Tri-County 3 0 3 1 0 = 7

Ainsworth 0 0 1 0 2 = 3

In the second game of the night, Tri-County got off to a fast start and looked poised to sweep the night, but lack of depth and pitching caught up with the Titans.

McAllister was the starting pitcher but experienced some tough calls and hit a rough patch allowing five runs in the second inning. Shabram had some pitches left on his pitch count for the evening, so he came in relief.

But this uphill battle would prove to be too steep for the tired Titans. They fought hard to the end, only to come up short, 2-9.

Shabram and Thomson scored the two Titan runs.

“The Titan bats were still alive, but the base running started to slip as the night went on, as did the defense with tired gloves.

Box score

Tri-County 2 0 0 0 0 = 2

Ainsworth 1 5 1 2 - = 9