By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence is winning the arms race.
With a stockpile of veteran pitchers, the Stars have the weapons to shut down an attack. They proved that while sweeping a split doubleheader on Friday night.
In the opening game, Kline Woodward struck out eight in five strong innings as BNL conquered Edgewood 6-2. In the nightcap, Cade Mungle was masterful as he fanned nine while allowing only one hit during a 10-0, mercy-rule triumph over West Vigo. After losing most of the week to weather, playing for the first time in seven days, the Stars were sharp, cutting like knives in the strike zone. Pitching doesn’t go dull.
“We’re going to hang our hat on our pitching,” BNL coach Jeff Callahan said. “That will be our strongest point. They both did a great job, worked ahead of hitters, which is key. We made some plays, and they got some big strikeouts.”
BNL 6, Edgewood 2 – In the first game, the Mustangs (2-3) struck first in the first, but BNL answered back immediately with RBI doubles by Woodward and Carter Bennett. That set the tone, and the Stars extended their lead with a RBI double by Ryker Hughes in the third and a three-run outburst in the fifth.
BNL did some manufacturing in the decisive rally. Cal Gates walked and Maddox Ray dropped a bunt single. Both runners advanced on a ground out, and Gates scored on an error. Bennett drove in the next run with a ground ball, and Walker Ward singled in the final run.
That was enough for Woodward, who was unscathed after the shaky start. Gates worked two innings in relief, and Hughes made a sparkling diving catch in left field. Mack Headdy had three hits for Edgewood.
BNL 10, West Vigo 0 – Mungle was almost untouchable, allowing only a lead-off single to Jacob Likens in the fifth.
“I was just hitting my spots, throwing a lot of strikes,” Mungle said. “Everything was working for me. That helps a lot, when you have a big lead. You can attack hitters and use your defense to get outs. It’s fun.“
BNL got the big lead with a seven-run fourth. The only run to that point came off a Ray single and Woodward RBI double. The breakout was fueled by two West Vigo errors, and the Stars took advantage with RBI hits from Cal Gates, Woodward, Bennett and a bases-loaded walk by Cam Gates.
The Stars finished off the Vikings in the fifth with a Cal Gates double, Ray’s infield single, and Woodward’s walk-off double off the left-field fence to score both runs.
“We played some good baseball,” Callahan said. “We have some kids with some wheels, we can put pressure on the defense.”
Ray also made the defensive play of the night. With two on and no outs in the fifth, he fielded a grounder that took a high hop off the mound, snagged the ball while stepping on second base and fired to first for a double play.
“That was huge,” Callahan said. “You never know, so that was a great play. That got us out of the inning.”
Woodward was 3 for 4 with four RBIs while Ray added three hits.
“We’re starting to hit our groove,” Mungle said. “This helps a lot with our confidence.”
BNL (5-1) will now face a busy week, five games in five days, starting with Seymour on Monday.
“That’s Major League Baseball at its best,” said Callahan, who is responsible for the aggressive scheduling. “I think this team needs to play a lot of games. They’re a veteran team, so the more games we can play, the more situations we can be in, the better off we will be.”
