Oakwood baseball picks up win over Hoopeston, Neuman hits ninth homerun

By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com

Isaiah Ruch had his first two-home run game of the spring on Monday, leading the Comets to a six-inning, 15-5 baseball triumph over visiting Hoopeston Area.

Oakwood is 11-8 overall and 5-3 in Vermilion Valley Conference games. The Comets have won eight of their last 11 games.

Ruch drove in four runs as did teammate Elijah Harden.

Other offensive leaders were Brady Howard (4-for-5) and Koby Fletcher (3-for-4).

Howard scored four runs and Lucas Huchel crossed home plate three times.

Harden pitched all six innings. He walked one and struck out four.  Harden yielded six hits and one earned run.

On Tuesday, Oakwood scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to overcome a 3-2 deficit and rally for a 4-3 triumph over North Vermillion (Ind.).

Howard led the way (3-for-4), swatting two doubles, and Ruch contributed two hits.

Reliever Josh Young worked the final 2 1/3 innings and earned the win. He permitted one hit in his stint and fanned three batters.

Starter Andy Hohn gave up three hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out four.

On Wednesday, Salt Fork scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 6-5 Vermilion Valley Conference win over the Comets.

Oakwood held a 14-9 edge in hits, with Noah Ruch and Josh Young garnering three apiece.

Fletcher and Jacob Spear each landed two hits.

Noah Ruch knocked in two runs and Spear scored twice.

Howard pitched the first six innings, striking out five and walking four.

Huchel worked one-third of an inning and suffered the loss after allowing an unearned run.

The Comets return to action today at Milford.

Softball

Eight Comets had hits on Monday, but Oakwood dropped a 9-7 decision to visiting Hoopeston Area.

Paiton Frerichs and Tiffany Paris each knocked in two runs. Kylie Neuman scored twice.

Kerrigan Shafer allowed six hits in seven innings. She walked six and struck out four.

Oakwood is 9-12 overall and 5-6 in Vermilion Valley Conference games.

On Tuesday, Neuman slugged her ninth home run among her two hits in a 10-2 loss at home to North Vermillion (Ind.)

Ashlynn Pinnick also chipped in with two hits.

Karsen Rupp pitched all seven innings. She walked three batters and struck out two.

On Wednesday, Neuman had two of the Comets’ four hits in a 3-0 loss to Salt Fork. Frerichs and Aubrie Wells had the team’s other hits.

Neuman also pitched six innings. She walked one and struck out four, allowing the Storm five hits.

Oakwood returns to action today at Milford.