Blue Devil bats blast Diamond Hornets
April 7, 2008 • Baseball
By Michael Orr

Photos by Morgen Orr Dreher starting pitcher Kurt Stoudenmire

Dreher scored at least two runs in every inning and blew out visiting Lower Richland 15- 2 in a shortened game at Dreher Field on April 7.

A Case Stiglbauer home run in the first inning set the tone for the powerful offensive output by the Blue Devils. Kurt Stoudenmire pitched all five innings giving up just four hits and two runs.

The Blue Devils opened their half of the first inning with a Stoudenmire double, Cory Green single, an error allowing Chandler Knox to reach base and Stiglbauer's rope of a home run to left field. Facing an immediate four- run deficit, Lower Richland pitcher Ethan Moody then promptly struck out the next three batters to temporarily stem the Dreher offensive tide.

Unfortunately for Moody and the Diamonds, there was a second inning. After recording the first out of the inning on a fly- out to center, Dreher powered through two LR pitchers to the tune of three singles and three doubles. Stiglbauer added his third RBI while a myriad of other Blue Devils contributed to the carnage. Dreher spent most of the inning with the bases loaded, knocking in one run after another and extending their lead to 11- 0 after two.

Dreher's Terrance Pelzer singles to center in the third innning.

Lower Richland finally responded in the third inning with a Brandon Wilkerson single

and a towering Mike Webb home run to left centerfield, bringing the score to 11- 2. Dreher was able to end the brief threat when Mykell Jacobs tried to reach second after a Blue Devil throwing error but was gunned down by Stiglbauer. Stoudenmire then helped his own cause, leading off the bottom half of the third with a home run of his own, to left field. Terrance Pelzer added an RBI single to center and the Dreher lead was extended to 13- 2.

A walk and single gave the Diamonds hope in the fourth inning, but Dreher catcher Matt Spotts threw out an LR runner at second and Stoudenmire ended the inning with his third strikeout to end any hope of a rally. Dreher pulled ahead by 13 runs by adding two more runs in the fourth behind an Alex Shaw single and Eli Latham beating out a double play attempt.

LR outfielder Mike Webb cranks a home run in the third for the Diamonds' only runs.

Stoudenmire took the mound for the abbreviated fifth and retired the three batters in order, preserving a 15- 2 home victory for the Blue Devils.

Green and Stoudenmire each went 3- 3 with an RBI and Stiglbauer added three RBI of his own to pace the Blue Devils. Wilkerson went 2- 3 for the Diamonds and Webb's home run provided both LR runs in the game.