By Staff
It is still early in the season, but some trends are starting to develop for the W.S. Neal Blue Eagles baseball team.
They score runs, they get good pitching and they win.
W.S. Neal ran its early season mark to 3-0 Thursday when it flew past visiting Pleasant Home 12-0 in five innings.
Junior Daniel Hodge not only blanked Pleasant Home with a complete game effort, he no-hit them. Hodge fanned 11 and walked three. It marked the third straight complete game by W.S. Neal pitchers.
Justin Smith had a a single, a double, two walks and three RBIs to lead the offense. In fact, Smith has reached base safely 12 straight times to start the season with six hits and six walks. Brandon Douglas had a pair of hits and drove in two runs. Cody Anthony also joined the two-hit club and had an RBI.
The Blue Eagles made quick work of the visiting Hillcrest Jaguars in a 12-1, five-inning victory on its home turf Tuesday.
Hodge and Jared Cooper had two of the biggest blows for the Blue Eagles. Hodge blasted a three-run homer in the third ining, while Cooper came through with a two-run single in the second inning.
Smith continued his early torrid hitting with a pair of hits and an RBI. Cory Freeman and Deric Smith also had a hit.
Douglas went the distance on the mound with a complete game two-hitter that featured 10 strikeouts.
W.S. Neal's early season strong pitching is not just at the varsity level. Whitney Qualls struck out 18 in a complete game one-hitter in Thursday's 6-1 win over Pleasant Home.
Justin Cole had a double and two RBIs, while Josh Danley added a hit and an RBI.
Tuesday's game
Hillcrest 001 00 – 1 2 2
W.S. Neal 353 1X – 12 8 0
Thursday's game
Pleasant Home 000 00 – 0 0 0
W.S. Neal 333 3X – 12 9 0