SPENCERVILLE – Spencerville wanted to give right-hander Jake Meyer a final tune-up before Friday’s tournament opener.
The Bearcats did just that and more.
Meyer threw three solid innings and had three hits to power the Bearcats to an 11-3 non-league victory over St. Marys Monday at Spencerville.
Meyer was happy the team was able to notch a rare victory over a Western Buckeye League opponent.
“It’s always great. It’s our first WBL win (this year),’’ Meyer said. “They beat Celina. That’s a good win for us, especially going into the tournament. It gives us a lot of confidence.”
Meyer, who was throwing close to the mid-80s on Monday, will play a combination of center field, shortstop and pitch for Georgia Highlands (junior college) next year.
Meyer, who hadn’t pitched in 12 days, went the first three innings and gave up one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked one. Meyer threw 59 pitches, 37 for strikes.
“That’s as long as I’ve gone without throwing,’’ Meyer. “I would get ahead 0-2, then I kept getting 3-2. … I was happy I was able to pitch against them today. I have a few buddies on that team.’’
Spencerville (10-11) will open sectional play in the sectional finals Friday against Liberty-Benton at Spencerville.
“In our last four or five games, we’ve started to turn the corner,” Spencerville coach Shane Falke said. “We’re getting the bats going a little bit more and the defense is getting better. And we got solid pitching today. It’s nice to come out here and put everything together and get some hits.’’
St. Marys (6-14) was in a position of holding back its top pitchers, as it opens sectional play Wednesday at Bath.
Four St. Marys pitchers walked 11 batters. Five of those walks came with the bases loaded.
“We were very patient at the plate,” Falke said.
The Bearcats also rapped out nine hits.
Meyer went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Justin Thiery went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Damon Blair was 2 for 3 with two RBI.
Spencerville’s Brady Nolan went 0 for 2 with two walks and two RBI. Brady Becker was 1 for 3 with two RBI.
Thad Ringwald was 0 for 2 with two walks and two RBI.
Becker picked up the win for the Bearcats going the final four innings. He gave up two runs, both earned, on three hits. He struck out one and walked five.
The Spencerville defense got through the day with only one error.
“We had some guys who were getting dirty (on defense),’’ Falke said. “That’s one thing we preach, get dirty and get after the ball. I’m very happy with our defense today.’’
St. Marys took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Will Spencer.
Spencerville came back with three runs on only one hit in the fifth to take the lead 4-2.
St. Marys starter Braeden Dunlap gave up two walks to start the home fifth.
He left at that point for lefty Henry Spencer, who walked the only four batters he faced. His last three walks all forced in a run.
Spencerville added seven more runs in the sixth to pull out to an 11-3 lead.
Becker’s RBI single to right made it 5-3. Ringwald and Chandler Kahle were both walked with the bags loaded and it was 7-3.
Thiery’s RBI single kicked the margin to 8-3. Blair’s two-run single to center gave Spencerville a 10-3 lead.
Meyer capped the scoring with an RBI double to left to make it 11-3.
For St. Marys, Austin Cook went 2 for 2 with two walks.
Spencerville hopes to build on Monday entering the sectional tourney.
“We haven’t been hitting the ball that well and this is a perfect time to start hitting the ball,’’ Meyer said.
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