Jays drop slugfest in Classic

sports@standard-democrat.com

CHARLESTON -- For one of the first times this season, the Charleston Bluejays were effective on offense.

A young, inexperienced Bluejays squad pounded out 15 hits and had five players with at least two hits apiece.

Charleston first baseman Ryan Houseman readies himself for the catch Friday against Barat Academy Friday at Hillhouse Park. (Photo by Chris Pobst, Staff)

Charleston first baseman Ryan Houseman readies himself for the catch Friday against Barat Academy Friday at Hillhouse Park. (Photo by Chris Pobst, Staff)

Although Charleston scratched out some runs, so did Barat Academy.

Charleston (1-10) dropped a 23-10 contest against Barat Friday during the 2012 Go Blue Classic at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.

"Offensively, we swung the bats and did some good things in some good counts," Charleston head coach Michael Minner said. "For the most part, we did a pretty good job of running the bases, but that's where it stopped."

Following three innings of tight baseball, Charleston was doomed after the top of the fourth.

Barat (7-3) pushed across 11 runs on 11 hits in their half of the fourth inning as they finally got to Charleston starter Trey Watkins. The Eagles scored six of their runs in the inning with two outs -- mostly in part to a few errors on Charleston's end.

"I thought Trey threw the ball tremendous," Minner said. "There in the fourth, we botched two bunt coverages, botched a ball, dropped a double play ball, didn't cover the plate and should have caught a ball. So, we gave them nine outs in an inning where we have a hard enough time getting three outs.

"We're just going to keep on doing what we do and try to get better."

Although they were faced with a 14-3 deficit and in danger of ending it after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule, the Bluejays didn't lie down.

Behind six hits, Charleston rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Cole Byford began the Bluejays' surge with a double. An RBI single by Chance Mannis and a bases-clearing double by Watkins cut Barat's lead in half at 14-7.

Back to back RBI singles from DJ Adams, who led Charleston with three hits, and Casey Tatum pulled the Bluejays to within four runs of the lead.

Their shortened deficit didn't last for long, however, as Charleston gave up another nine runs in the top of the sixth to put the game completely out of reach.

"The biggest thing I seen was coming back after (Charleston) put up their six," Theodorakos said. "We were a ground ball error from putting them away in the fifth, but coming back and putting up a big number right after that is what I'll take away from this."

Barat, who looked to take every advantage they could and be very aggressive on the base paths, combined for 22 hits and had seven players with two hits of more.

"We put pressure on the defense and make them get us out," said Theodorakos. "We apply pressure any way that we can. We want to throw strikes, steal bases and get our bunts down. Whoever executes the best, wins."

Ryan Meyer went 5 for 6 with a double and five RBI to easily lead the Eagles at the plate. Sam Byrne added four hits and three RBI.

"We've got nowhere to go but up," Minner said. "I really thought we competed for three innings and our intensity was there. When things go south, it just snowballed on us.

"The experience we're getting during this rebuilding time will pay dividends down the road."

Barat 100 (11)29 -- 23 22 3

Charleston 021 061 -- 10 15 8

WP -- Tanner Reid. LP -- Trey Watkins. 2B -- (B) Evan Lloyd, Tanner Reid 2. (C) Trey Watkins, Michael Baugh, Cole Byford. 3B -- (B) Ryan Meyer. Multiple hitters -- (B) Lloyd 2-4, Meyer 5-6, Sam Byrne 4-4, Trey Allison 2-6, Brendon Jung 2-3, Reid 3-5, William Burns 2-3. (C) Watkins 2-5, DJ Adams 3-4, Casey Tatum 2-4, Byford 2-4, Chance Mannis 2-3.