Beecher Edges Gardner-South Wilmington 4-3 Behind Lane’s Perfect Day at the Plate

Easton Lane’s perfect day at the plate helped propel the Beecher varsity baseball team to a tight 4-3 home conference victory over Gardner-South Wilmington on Monday.

Lane went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored, leading an offensive attack that established an early advantage for the hosts.

Beecher jumped on the board quickly, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning and adding another in the second. The 3-0 cushion held until the top of the fifth, when Gardner-South Wilmington’s bats finally broke through.

After being held in check through the early innings by Beecher starter Gavin Van Ness, the visitors rallied for three runs in the fifth to tie the game. Reed Millette and C. Christensen each collected two hits on the day to pace the Gardner-South Wilmington offense, with Christensen and Hunter Partilla driving in key runs.

The tie was short-lived, however, as Beecher answered immediately with the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the fifth.

Relief pitcher Chasten Clegg then slammed the door to secure the victory. Clegg earned the win by tossing 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, walking two, and striking out five. Van Ness finished with a no-decision after a gritty start, striking out six and allowing three runs over 4.2 innings of work.

Owen Vitko took the loss on the mound for Gardner-South Wilmington, surrendering one earned run over three innings while striking out two.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• 1st Inning

  • Beecher: 2 runs scored.

• 2nd Inning

  • Beecher: 1 run scored.

• 5th Inning

  • Gardner-South Wilmington: 3 runs scored.

  • Beecher: 1 run scored.

Individual Statistics

• BATTING:

  • Beecher: Easton Lane 3-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R; Nicholas Fox 1-3.

  • Gardner-South Wilmington: Reed Millette 2-3, 1 R; C. Christensen (No. 18) 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R; Hunter Partilla 1-2, 1 RBI.

• PITCHING:

  • Beecher: Chasten Clegg (W) 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K; Gavin Van Ness 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 6 K.

  • Gardner-South Wilmington: Owen Vitko (L) 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; C. Christensen (No. 18) 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K; C. Christensen (No. 16) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K.

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini

—photo by Jim Piacentini