The JV Gladiators play double-header in Glen Rose
Italy’s, Marvin Cox, slides home for a run against the Tigers. (Barry Byers)
Glen Rose — The Italy JV Gladiators played a double-header in Glen Rose Saturday against the Glen Rose JV Tigers to get in extra innings of practice and make up for a couple missed games this season. Cody Boyd, led off Italy’s defensive attack from the mound in the first game while teammate, John Escamilla, was behind the catcher’s mask. Marvin Cox, was impressively offensively turning his first three at bats into doubles with guts and speed.
Tristan Smithwick, flourished at his second consecutive start at third base and, Kevin Roldan, was a busy Gladiator at first base, colliding with runners, diving for foul balls and collecting outs. Byers, at second, vacuumed ground balls out of the dirt and swallowed flies like a venus fly trap during another strong performance by the reliable veteran. Cox, is a superbly skilled shortstop but in the first game, the Tigers kept, Kyle Fortenberry, and the rest of Italy’s outfielders working.
Byers, almost went yard soaring a fly ball deep to left field that dropped at the 310 foot mark, bounced up and deflected off the top of the wall back into play. The 3RBI double made the score 10-5 but the Tigers pulled away for the 15-5 win.
In the second game, Cox, continued his hitting streak and hit for 7-out-of-7 at the plate totaling 6 doubles and 1 single on the afternoon. Byers, had a second chance at his first career over-the-wall homer but the ball pulled up around the 300 foot point and bounced to the base of the left field wall. John Byers, a freshman DH hitter for the varsity Gladiators, got the start at third and made play after play. J. Byers also singled on a fly ball to center at his first at bat.
Perhaps the most outstanding performance was turned in by Italy’s rookie DH hitter, John “Squirt” Hughes. With a brief rain blowing in sideways at times, Hughes, outran a dropped strike three ball by the Tigers catcher to reach first base. Two stolen bases later, Hughes, was sliding head first across the plate to excite Italy fans and his teammates. During his next at bat, Hughes hit a line drive single past the Tiger shortstop and into left field. After making his way around the bases, Hughes, was knocked in to add his second run of the game towards Italy’s cause.
Fueled by the effort from Hughes and an outfield catch by right fielder, Omar Estrada, Italy was in control after four-innings, 12-2. However, by the end of the day, Italy’s baseball head coach, Josh Ward, went thru several pitchers. Besides Boyd, Fortenberry, Tyler Anderson, Bailey Walton and Cox made appearances on the mound with, Escamilla, catching for them all. The Tigers took advantage of Italy’s depleted pitching staff and clawed their way back into the game. A rally in the bottom of the seventh propelled Glen Rose to 14-13 win, despite an RBI single from, Smithwick, in the top of the inning to score, Z. Byers, which gave Italy a 13-11 cushion going into the Tigers’ final at bat.
On the plus side, however, it was a great day for baseball at a great facility and campus in Glen Rose. The JV Gladiators picked up 13-innings of practice which could pay huge dividends down the road.