ARGYLE — After two 10-run rule losses to start their season, the Orioles defeated Benton-Shullsburg in convincing fashion, 4-0, on Friday, April 14. Starting pitcher Max Godfrey and relief pitcher Ike Waage combined for the three-hit shutout.
“He is our go-to — he is the man we call on and away we go. When Max is on the mound, we are in control,” Argyle head coach Tyler Ritchard said. “It’s after that that we have to figure out a way to get through the game. We did with Ike. He’s a good No. 2 to close the game.”
Argyle set the tone on defense early, as Blake Lawrence was caught stealing third. He got in a pickle that was executed perfectly by the Orioles’ third baseman, second baseman and shortstop. The play eliminated a lead-off single.
“We do a lot of situational stuff in practice,” Ritchard said. “Those are the plays that you’ll get a run or two to decide the baseball game. If you can’t execute them, they will hurt you.”
Despite three hits, Argyle didn’t score its first run until the bottom of the fourth. Waage led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. Thomas Nelson sacrificed himself with a bunt but reached on an error by Lawrence, anyway.
Waage and Nelson stole on the second pitch of Weston Ganshert’s at-bat, setting up an RBI opportunity. Ganshert rolled over to the shortstop, but Waage went on contact. He danced between third and home before scoring as the fielder at home dropped the ball.
After a five-batter top of the fifth, Argyle loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame. Garrett Phillipson reached on an infield single, and Benton-Shullsburg committed two errors. Down to the last strike of his at-bat, Mason McNett lined a single to center, driving in two runs.
Argyle added another insurance run on in the bottom of the sixth. Godfrey reached on a four-pitch walk and stole second. Phillipson then bunted Godfrey over to third. Using his speed yet again, Godfrey scored on a passed ball to give the Orioles a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Ritchard turned to Waage to close out the game. Nathan Keleher made sure Benton-Shullsburg didn’t go down easy, leading off the inning with a single. He advanced to third on two passed balls, just 90 feet from ruining Argyle’s shutout.
Waage struck out Owen Fennell, sending Heath Poppy to the plate. The next pitch went into the dirt, blocked by Godfrey who replaced Phillipson at catcher. Keleher strayed too far from third, drawing attention from Godfrey, who attempted to run at Keleher. In the process, Poppy left the batter’s box and was called out on interference.
“I’ve been playing travel ball for a lot of years. It comes easily to me,” Godfrey said of his high-IQ play. “Running into the batter is easy. As soon as he steps out of the box, its interference.”
Waage then struck out Jacob Behnke to secure the shutout win. Combined, Waage and Godfrey struck out 14 batters and gave up just three hits. At the plate, Will Helfvogt and Phillipson recorded a multiple-hit game, while McNett drove in two runs.
