By Jeff Patrus
Staff Writer
Goodrich’s varsity baseball team is continuing to ride a perfect start to the season.
The host Martians dispatched Genesee in an April 18 doubleheader, winning the opener 10-4 and the nightcap 12-3. Goodrich is now 9-0 on the season and 3-0 in Genesee Area Conference action.
In the first game, the Martians scored four runs in the third inning and three in the fourth inning, offsetting Genesee’s two runs each in the third and fourth innings. The Martians added three more runs in the sixth inning for good measure.
Kirk Elsworth led the offensive charge for the Martians, going 2-for-2 with a home run, two walks, three runs scored and four RBI. Matt Hughes chipped in with a 2-for-4 efforts, scoring three runs and driving in one.
In the nightcap, Basil Wilson hit an inside the park home run, and Adam Compeau was a double away from hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a triple, home run, one run scored, and four RBI.
Ty Purdy bolstered the Martians? attack by going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Pitcher Mike Skinner went the full six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out eight.
The Martians remained undefeated by sweeping an April 13 doubleheader against Swartz Creek, taking the opener 13-3 and the nightcap 2-1.
Elsworth went 3-for-3 in the opener to lead the Goodrich offense, scoring two runs and driving in two.
The story of the second game was Keith Brotherton, who relieved Nick Wesener in the second inning with Swartz Creek ahead 1-0.
Brotherton went six innings and allowed only one hit while striking out four, although he did walk five Swartz Creek batters. However, he held the Dragons at bay until Goodrich came up in the bottom of the sixth.
Bennett Gillam was hit by a pitch in that inning. Rivera then bunted and reached first on an error, with Gillam moving to third. Hughes then grounded out to shortstop, driving Gillam in to tie the game at one.
Dusty Bourassa then walked and Skinner hit the ball to right field to drive Hughes in from second with the winning run.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Martians had to throw the tying run out at home plate twice. The first instance came when Gillam threw to Wesener at third, who then threw out the runner at home.
The second time, Elsworth made the final out by throwing out a runner from center field to end the game.
‘It was a great come from behind win for us,? Goodrich coach Bob Foreback said.