BLYTHEWOOD – An explosive seven-run first inning and a no-hit performance from Blaize Owen propelled Westwood to a 12-2 mercy-rule win over Ridge View on Tuesday night.
Owen was dominant on the mound, facing 17 batters over four innings of work. Despite walking five, the right-hander struck out five and allowed no hits to keep the Blazers’ bats silenced.
The Redhawks (2-2, 1-2 Region 5-5A) wasted no time in the bottom of the first. After Jayden Quarles walked and stole second and Zachary Nelson was hit by a pitch, Austin Jeffcoat cleared the bases with a line-drive triple to center field to give Westwood a quick 2-0 lead.
The onslaught continued as Kellen Moore drove in a run with a single to left, followed by a Josiah Henryhand walk to load the bases. A Ridge View error allowed two more runs to cross the plate before Elijah Smith capped the seven-run frame by scoring on a passed ball.
Bats less potent in the middle innings, the Redhawks’ early lead was more than enough to end the game in the fifth. Moore finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, while Nathan Caldwell added a double. Smith finished the night with three RBIs.
The win helps the Redhawks bounce back from a 6-3 region loss at home to Blythewood last Thursday. In that matchup, Jeffcoat went 2-for-2 and Henryhand doubled, but a four-run third inning by the Bengals proved too much for Westwood to overcome. The win was Blythewood’s second over Westwood last week.
The Redhawks opened play on the road with a 4-3 thriller over Wando on March 6. Tied at three in the top of the seventh, Nathan Caldwell singled to give Westwood the go-ahead run.
Caldwell also earned the win on the mound for the Redhawks. On in relief of Owen, he allowed just one hit and no runs in two innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Westwood travels to Ridge View on Thursday for a region rematch before a break from region play next week. Westwood hits the road to face Great Falls on Tuesday, then hosts the Red Devils at home on Wednesday, March 25. They’ll return to region play at Spring Valley on March 31.
MARCH 6
WESTWOOD – 0-0-0-1-2-0-1– 4, 3, 3
WANDO – 0-0-1-0-0-2-0 – 3, 2, 3
WP: Nate Caldwell, 2.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
WESTWOOD – Austin Jeffcoat 1-3, BB. Nate Caldwell 1-3, RBI, BB. Kellen Moore 1-3.
WANDO – C Anderson 1-3, BB, RBI. J DiMartino 1-4, BB.
Thursday
Blythewood – 0-0-4-0-0-0-2 – 6, 7, 1
Westwood – 1-0-0-1-1-0-0 – 3, 6, 4
WP: Andrew Blackwell, 4.2 IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 8K
B – Andrew Blackwell 2-4. Caleb Blackwell 2-4. Amare Counts HR, 2 RBI.
W – Austin Jeffcoat 2-2. Josiah Henryhand 2B.
Tuesday
Ridge View – 1-0-1-0-0-X-X – 2, 1, 14
Westwood – 7-1-2-1-1-X-X – 12, 8, 3
WP: Blaize Owen, 4.0 IP, 0H, 2R, 0ER, 5BB, 5K.
W – Kellen Moore 2-2. Austin Jeffcoat 3B, 3 RBI. Blaize Owen 2B. Nathan Caldwell 2B. Elijah Smith 3 RBI.
