Bonus baseball coverage of Gladiators during Blooming Grove tournament

Barry Byers Posted March 5, 2014 8:00pm Additional Images

Image: Sophomore Ryan Connor adds punch to Italy’s pitching staff. — Sophomore Ryan Connor adds punch to Italy’s pitching staff. (Barry Byers)

Enjoy additional images from the past few games leading up to Italy’s first win of the season, 8-1 against the Rice Bulldogs.

Go Gladiators!

Freshman Kenneth Norwood, Jr.(20), gets ready for Italy’s Blooming Grove Tournament finale game against Rice. (Barry Byers)

Tyler Vencill(15) tries to stop a Jaguar from reaching third-base. (Barry Byers)

Second-baseman Clayton Miller(6) is the cut-off man against Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Senior Bailey Walton(17) stands at the ready against Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

John Byers(18) hit an RBI and then scores, accounting for Italy’s 2-runs against Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Senior Tyler Anderson puts the ball into play against Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Ty Windham(12) pitches with a wicked wing during the Hubbard game. (Barry Byers)

Better safe than sorry as Ty Windham(12) gets back to the bag. (Barry Byers)

Zain Byers(5) gets his first hit of the season with a single against Rice. A good sign for Italy’s hit-men. (Barry Byers)

Catcher Tyler Vencill pulls in a strike against Rice. (Barry Byers)

Levi McBride(1) catches a fly ball in right field for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

John Byers(18) pulls in a pop-up at short. (Barry Byers)

Rice respects the speed: The Bulldogs force John Byers(18) back to the bag. The last time that happened was about a hundred pounds ago leaving “J.B.” to admit he forgot to close his mouth. (Barry Byers)

Tyler Vencill(15) discusses the signs with pitcher Ryan Connor(4). (Barry Byers)

Kyle Fortenberry(14) gets safely back to second-base. (Barry Byers)

Italy catcher John Escamilla makes the catch but the Lions get the run. (Barry Byers)

Eric Carson(3) strides in for an Italy run. (Barry Byers)

Kevin Roldan(16) threatens to steal second. (Barry Byers)

Fear the beard! Kyle Fortenberry(14) does work on the mound for Italy. (Barry Byers)

John “Bat Bender” Byers(18) warps another bat. (Barry Byers)

First-baseman Kevin Roldan(16) is ready to finish off Rice. (Barry Byers)

“Super Diesel” strikes again. Tyler Vencill reveals Italy’s Rise To Victory shirt. (Barry Byers)

The Gladiators walk off victorious after defeating Rice 8-1 for Italy’s first win of the season. (Barry Byers)