BLAKE PHELPS THREW A COMPLETE GAME FOR THE BLUE DEVILS (PHOTO/ CHRIS GRAHAM)
Allowing only three hits and one run through seven innings, Phelps kept hitters off balance and provided the Blue Devils with another quality outing.
“I was glad to see Blake (Phelps) get a complete game today,” head coach Chuck Nesbitt said. “He pitched well, certainly not as good enough as I’ve seen him pitch, but it’s a tough day to pitch. The heat I think affects some of these guys and the first day of really playing in it is kind of tough, but he pitched good enough to win.”
Phelps, who struck out seven, also felt he provided a good start for his team.
“I was throwing a pretty good fastball, my curveball wasn’t working the best, but made it work anyway,” Phelps said.
Phelps received plenty of run support, with the Blue Devils jumping out to a 6-1 lead by then end of the third inning. The team also received RBIs from five different players, getting the balance through the lineup Nesbitt is hoping for.
“The bottom half of the lineup hit the ball well again today,” Nesbitt said.
With the lineup beginning to come around, that can only mean more support for the strong four-man rotation of the Blue Devils. Nesbitt feels that Phelps, along with the other starters: Ben Kelly, Sean Ledwith and Ryan LaGrou are responsible for the team’s early success.
“That’s why we’re 10-1,” Nesbitt said. “We’ve never had a game where we don’t have a pitcher that can throw strikes and do what they want to do. When you’re in a situation where a guy is starting to get a little shaky and you look around and you see two or three other very quality pitchers who are rested and ready to go, it’s a pretty nice feeling.”
Geneseo (10-1) is in action Friday, when they travel to Warsaw. Game is slated for a 4:30 start.