The ThunderHawks lost to MUH 10-1 last week and got hammered again Thursday, scoring three times in the seventh inning in an 11-5 loss at Foundation Field.
“They hit whoever you put out there,” said MUM coach Ken Prichard, whose unit fell to 7-17 overall and 2-2 in the ORCC. “Darrel does a great job. He’s able to recruit well because he wins and he’s got the facilities. That’s why they dominate the league. You have to give him and his staff a lot of credit.”
The ThunderHawks managed to take a 2-0 lead before Miami Hamilton reeled off 11 straight runs, getting home-run bombs from Derek Bischoff, Jeremy Yeary and Tyler Peters.
“I’ve only lost to Middletown twice in 11 years,” said Grissom, smiling. “I’ve told our guys we’re not allowed to lose to them.”
MUH, which totaled 17 hits, is now 15-13 overall and 6-0 in the league. The Harriers started the season 0-10.
“It’s definitely a confident group,” said shortstop Josh Hugentobler, a La Salle High School product who was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs. “I’m sure the league talk will be coming soon. We really want to get that win count up before we start worrying about the league title.”
Grissom admitted he wasn’t thrilled with his players’ ho-hum attitude early in the game, but once they sprang to life, MUM pitcher Zach Hembree was just serving up batting practice.
“It was a matter of time before we got our timing down,” Grissom said. “We’re hitting the ball as hard, one through nine, as we have in a long time.”
David Prichard was the winning pitcher, allowing five hits and two runs in six innings. Hembree went the distance for the ThunderHawks.
Top hitters for MUM were Robert Riley (two hits, double, two RBIs), Joe Nieman (RBI), Lucas Stringer (RBI), J.C. Kellis (double) and Austin Bach (RBI).
“I thought we would be a little better this year, but we’ve had a lot of injuries,” Ken Prichard said. “If you look at the rest of the way, we could win another seven or eight games before the season is over. We’re playing better baseball right now. We just need to tighten things up a little bit.”
Miami Middletown — which doesn’t have a home field this year, but plans to play at the old Monroe High School diamond in 2011 — visits Ohio State Mansfield for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.
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