The Italy JV baseball team hosted Red Oak Life on Thursday night. This was their fourth game this season. The guys pooled their resources and managed to gain another win. The final score was Italy 13, Life 12.

Coach Josh Ward commented on the players, “This was an exciting game. The team was swinging their bats well and had good defense. A good job all around. I have to commend Ross (Stiles) and Chase (Hamilton). This was the first time they have been on the mound and had excellent performances. I also want to mention Kyle (Jackson), Clint (Gatlin) and Reid (Jacinto). They hit the ball well and jumped in early. They (Mustangs) called us and we answered back. All in all everyone did a good job.”

Caden Jacinto began pitching for Italy and performed well, according to Coach Ward. “Caden came in and did a great job. I am very proud of him.” The ending score was close but it wasn’t that way throughout the game. The first time Italy played the Mustangs in early April, the final score was 10-4 Italy. This time the Red Oak team came together, played and batted well. It can be said, they gave the Gladiators a little competition.

The Mustangs scored in the first inning with 3 points. However, when the Gladiators came up to bat in the bottom of the first, they showed Red Oak what baseball was all about. Chase Hamilton put the first run on the board after Red Oak pitcher #2 Joe Aguillar overthrew the ball to their 3rd baseman. Reid Jacinto hit a grounder to right field and scored Kyle Jackson and Brandon Souder. Clint Gatling, courtesy runner for Caden Jacinto, came home with bases loaded after Alex DeMoss walked. The score for the inning was 6 Italy, 3 Red Oak. It was a very exciting inning.

However, at the top of the 5th inning, the tide changed for the Mustangs and the Gladiators. When Red Oak catcher, #8 Dylan O’Lear, came up to bat with two outs, he hit to the left and out of the park, bringing #6 Michael Phillips home too. This brought the score 9 Italy, Red Oak 6.

The Gladiators realized the Mustangs were there for serious business and Italy better step up to deal with it. Clinton Gatling and Cole Hopkins scored two more points for Italy on Red Oak’s errors and brought the score to 11 for Italy. Coach Josh Ward changed pitchers in the top of the 6th inning and Ross Stiles took over for one inning. Caden moved to catching.

Red Oak stalled in the top of the 6th inning with two strike outs and an out at 1st. The bottom of the 6th inning saw two more runs for the Gladiators with RBI’s by Clint Gatling with a double, bringing Caden and Brandon home. The score in this inning was 13-6.

The top of the 7th inning allowed Red Oak to bat one more time. Wanting to give everyone a chance to play different positions in this game, Coach Ward changed pitchers again to Chase Hamilton and Ross went back to catching. Italy stopped the Mustangs at every turn. Red Oak scored 5 points during this inning on some miscues but the outcome saw the Gladiators on top. The final score was Italy 13, Red Oak 12.

Coach Ward said, “We have good building blocks with these kids and varsity will have a bright future with them.”

Both Coach Matt Coker and Coach Ward want the JV to practice with the Varsity for play-offs. The next JV game is against Milford and due to TAKS tests and regional track meets the game is TBA.