Italy Baseball opens district with 14-0 win over visiting Faith Family Academy

Image: Andi Windham, on the right, tracks her son, Italy Gladiator junior pitcher Ty Windham, and his strikeout count against Faith Family with help from Amanda Connor on the left. Windham totaled 13 strikeouts to lead Italy in their 14-0 shutout win to begin district play.

Andi Windham, on the right, tracks her son, Italy Gladiator junior pitcher Ty Windham, and his strikeout count against Faith Family with help from Amanda Connor on the left. Windham totaled 13 strikeouts to lead Italy in their 14-0 shutout win to begin district play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Ty Windham(12) and his unique pitching style kept Faith Family batters out of rhythm throughout with #12 recording 13 strikeouts.

Gladiator Ty Windham(12) and his unique pitching style kept Faith Family batters out of rhythm throughout with #12 recording 13 strikeouts. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ty Windham(12) scoops a short ball hit between his mound and home plate before turning and eagle-eyeing Eagle runners.

Italy’s Ty Windham(12) scoops a short ball hit between his mound and home plate before turning and eagle-eyeing Eagle runners. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator left fielder Cody Boyd(10) collects a foul ball.

Senior Gladiator left fielder Cody Boyd(10) collects a foul ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ty Windham(12) receives an arial luv bump from teammate John Byers(18) after Windham got Italy out of a jam with his second strikeout to start the game against Faith Family.

Ty Windham(12) receives an arial luv bump from teammate John Byers(18) after Windham got Italy out of a jam with his second strikeout to start the game against Faith Family. (Barry Byers)

Image: Leadoff hitter Levi McBride(1) gets on base first for Italy. McBride would steal both second and third-base before a balk by the Eagle pitcher sent him home to give the Gladiators a 1-0 lead early.

Leadoff hitter Levi McBride(1) gets on base first for Italy. McBride would steal both second and third-base before a balk by the Eagle pitcher sent him home to give the Gladiators a 1-0 lead early. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator head coach Jon Cady fires up his troops to start the second-inning against Faith Family.

Gladiator head coach Jon Cady fires up his troops to start the second-inning against Faith Family. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator catcher John Escamilla(7) keeps a low ball from getting past him.

Senior Gladiator catcher John Escamilla(7) keeps a low ball from getting past him. (Barry Byers)

Image: Junior Gladiator Ryan Connor(4) stays loose at shortstop between innings.

Junior Gladiator Ryan Connor(4) stays loose at shortstop between innings. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy senior Kyle Fortenberry(12) shows bunt but would later hit a triple against Faith Family.

Italy senior Kyle Fortenberry(12) shows bunt but would later hit a triple against Faith Family. (Barry Byers)

Image: Clayton Miller(6) with the bunt heard around the district. Miller, a junior, turned this ‘beautiful’ bunt down the third-base line into an RBI and trip around the bases to score two runs for Italy.

Clayton Miller(6) with the bunt heard around the district. Miller, a junior, turned this ‘beautiful’ bunt down the third-base line into an RBI and trip around the bases to score two runs for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator senior Tyler Vencill(15) races around third-base and hurries home to score a Gladiator run.

Gladiator senior Tyler Vencill(15) races around third-base and hurries home to score a Gladiator run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Clayton Miller(6) bunts his way around the bases. It doesn’t go down in the books as a homer but it sure was fun.

Italy’s Clayton Miller(6) bunts his way around the bases. It doesn’t go down in the books as a homer but it sure was fun. (Barry Byers)

Image: Colin Newman(16) and Levi McBride(1) welcome Clayton Miller(6) back to the Gladiator dugout after Miller’s bunt turned into a trip around the bases.

Colin Newman(16) and Levi McBride(1) welcome Clayton Miller(6) back to the Gladiator dugout after Miller’s bunt turned into a trip around the bases. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gotcha! Senior Gladiator catcher John Escamilla(7) catches an Eagle runner in a run down between home and third.

Gotcha! Senior Gladiator catcher John Escamilla(7) catches an Eagle runner in a run down between home and third. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy catcher John Escamilla(7) tosses the ball to shortstop Ryan Connor(4) who covered third-base during the run down. Connor made the catch and then made the tag for an out.

Italy catcher John Escamilla(7) tosses the ball to shortstop Ryan Connor(4) who covered third-base during the run down. Connor made the catch and then made the tag for an out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Third-baseman John Byers(18) and pitcher Ty Windham(12) hug for luck to start the top of the fifth-inning.

Third-baseman John Byers(18) and pitcher Ty Windham(12) hug for luck to start the top of the fifth-inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Assistant baseball coach Jackie Cate gets up in the air with Levi McBride(1) in celebration of Italy’s 14-0 shutout win over Faith Family Academy.

Assistant baseball coach Jackie Cate gets up in the air with Levi McBride(1) in celebration of Italy’s 14-0 shutout win over Faith Family Academy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Celeb status: Senior Gladiator John Byers signs autographs and poses with some of his biggest little fans including Grace Patton and Maddie Patton in from Harper, Texas and and pee-wee Lady Gladiator Ella Hudson.

Celeb status: Senior Gladiator John Byers signs autographs and poses with some of his biggest little fans including Grace Patton and Maddie Patton in from Harper, Texas and and pee-wee Lady Gladiator Ella Hudson. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Gary Escamilla makes it back to the bag during JV action.

Italy’s Gary Escamilla makes it back to the bag during JV action. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pedro Salazar(12) powers a single shot past the Crandall infield.

Pedro Salazar(12) powers a single shot past the Crandall infield. (Barry Byers)

Image: JV pitcher Kendrick Norwood(5) started on the mound for Italy.

JV pitcher Kendrick Norwood(5) started on the mound for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reese Janek hits one into the outfield for Italy’s JV.

Reese Janek hits one into the outfield for Italy’s JV. (Barry Byers)

Image: JV Gladiator Kyle Tindol(15) stares down Crandal’s pitcher.

JV Gladiator Kyle Tindol(15) stares down Crandal’s pitcher. (Barry Byers)

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