No. 4 New London stays perfect

NEW LONDON — New London has been as good as they’ve come on the baseball diamond this season.

The No. 4 Tigers picked up yet another win on Friday to stay perfect, 11-0, with a 8-1 victory over Hillcrest Academy.

New London had the bats going straight out of the gates against the Ravens and Brenden Richey didn’t do to shabby on the mound as well, giving up just two hits in the win.

Kooper Schulte got the Tigers started off right with a double and a steal to third. Dereck Santiago then carded an RBI double. Santiago then made his way home off a Tucker Gibber double off an error, making it 2-0.

Hillcrest was able to stop the damage there, but the Tigers were quick to get back to the plate.

“With the quality of at bats were taking right now, the guys are pretty locked in,” New London head coach Brad Helmerson said. “The guys are swinging at pitches that they can handle and hit hard. That’s what enabling them to have success.”

Richey struck out the first two Ravens and forced a ground ball to make quick work of the first inning.

At the plate in the top of the second, the Tigers added two more runs, with Santiago bringing Schulte and Seth Bailey home.

After two scoreless innings, the Tigers added another in the top of the fifth when Carter Allen brought Santiago home on an RBI double.

Hillcrest Academy got on the board in the bottom of the fifth after Luke Schrock doubled and Seth Ours singled to bring him home, making it 5-1.

Schulte then came into close for New London after a great outing for Richey.

“When Brenden goes five and a third with no hit that’s gonna keep you in the ballgame with anyone,” Helmerson said.

Schulte struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth, the Tigers made it 8-1 after bringing three additional runs across home plate off a pair of walks and RBI fielders choice.

Hillcrest couldn’t get anything started in the top of the seventh as Schulte ended with a pair of strikeouts and ground ball to gift the Tigers another victory.

Santiago had two hits for New London with four RBIs. Allen also had two hits with an RBI. Tucker Gibbar, Seth Bailey and Schulte all had one hit. Gibbar also had an RBI in the win.

Richey went 5.1 innings with two hits allowed, one run, three walks and six strikeouts. Schulte closed with four strikeouts.

For Hillcrest, Schrock and Ours had the Ravens only hits in the game. Ours had the sole RBI.

Josiah Beachy pitched four innings, allowing five hits, four runs (three earned), three walks and one strikeout. Phoenix Anderson closed for two innings, with one hit, four runs (two earned) and three walks.

“I’m really proud of the way the guys competed,” Hillcrest Academy head coach Danny Hershberger said. “Offensively, I thought we hit the ball hard a couple times, just right at them. I really happy with how we were able to compete against a really good team.”