HENDERSONVILLE Beech High’s baseball team scored in a variety of ways on Monday evening, but the Buccaneers had the same focus in each situation.
Beech High junior Ian McWilliams threw a complete-game shutout, striking out nine hitters while only allowing two hits.
Paying attention to the details paid off for Beech as the Buccaneers rolled to a 10-0, five-inning victory over visiting Portland at Buccaneer Field.
Beech (14-10 overall, 5-2 in District 9-AAA) scored on a sacrifice fly, two bunts, a fielder’s choice, a single, a double, a home run, a hit batter, a passed ball and an error.
Senior Jacob Jenkins provided the power with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot down the rightfield line to lead off the fourth inning.
“We got up here quickly after fourth block was over and hit on the field,” Jenkins said. “We made sure we did all the little things right. It turned out well for us.”
Beech High senior first baseman Jacob Jenkins tags out Portland senior Austin Graves on a pickoff play during first-inning action. Jenkins hit a fourth-inning home run.
The Buccaneers scored five runs in the third inning against Portland senior starting pitcher Nick Lingo and senior reliever Austin Gregory.
Both Jenkins and junior Michael Hayes drove in a pair of runs, helping to give junior starting pitcher Ian McWilliams more than enough run support against the Panthers (8-12, 0-6).
McWilliams cruised to the complete-game victory, allowing two hits and one base on balls and recording nine strikeouts … only needing 60 pitches to do so.
“I think we knew what we were up against,” Portland head coach Jimmy Parker said. “(McWilliams) is a good pitcher, and as long as we were within a run, we were in striking distance. But we just fell apart (in the third inning), and we just kind of went back to the old ways.”
Portland High senior Nick Lingo delivers a second-inning pitch during Monday evening’s contest at Beech.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
Portland 000 00 – 0 2 1
Beech 015 13 – 10 9 0
Nick Lingo, Austin Gregory (3) and Kemper Dixon; Ian McWilliams and Ryan Mortensen. WP – McWilliams (3-0). LP – Lingo (2-4). Home runs: Beech – Jacob Jenkins (4). Records: Portland 8-12 overall, 0-6 in District 9-AAA; Beech 14-10, 5-2.