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BASEBALL: Greencastle-Antrim can't figure out Ben Dum in loss to West Perry


GREENCASTLE >> Through the first three innings of Monday's baseball game, Greencastle vs. West Perry had all the makings of a pitchers' duel.

But the Mustangs put up four runs in the top of the fourth inning, and Ben Dum tossed a two-hitter to hand the Blue Devils a 6-0 non-league defeat.

"We've had some losses this season where we literally handed it to the other team," Greencastle coach Eric Shaner. "Today wasn't that. We competed and executed, and that's the most I can ask of these guys."

But as much as the Blue Devils (8-5) battled – they forced Dum to throw 102 pitches – they never had an answer. Dum cruised through Greencastle's lineup, giving up just one walk and singles by Kurt Hansen and Myles Gayman. He added eight strikeouts and never allowed a baserunner to reach third base.

"My curveball was working today, but I really didn't have my best stuff," said Dum, who earlier this season had a perfect game and a no-hitter. "I just attacked the zone and let my defense work behind me."

Hansen said, "He's definitely different than any pitcher we've seen this season. He throws harder than anything we've seen, and he has a unique delivery."

The Mustangs (13-1) had a hard time figuring out Devils starter Spencer Meyers early, but some good fortune helped them break through in the fourth.

Ethan Lesher led off the inning with a line-drive base hit, and after a Scott Messner sacrifice bunt, Dum laced a double into right-centerfield to score Lesher. Then, after a groundout, Brendon Bussom skied a fly ball into leftfield. Bailey Parker appeared to track down the ball, but the wind killed it and it dropped for an RBI single. Trevor Dolin then hit a little bloop over Meyers' head that dropped for an infield single, and he stole second to put runners on second and third with two down. Michael Chiccini capped off West Perry's scoring with a two-run single into centerfield.

"Anytime you play Greencastle, you need some things to fall your way," Mustang coach Jeff Sanno said. "We had a few balls fall in for us, and we were able to cash in."

Shaner said, "That's the kind of stuff in baseball that you just can't control. We gave ourselves a chance and didn't roll over."

West Perry added two more runs in the top of the seventh on a pair of walks and throwing errors, and Dum had a comebacker to the mound and a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

Shaner said, "We were thin at pitching from our tournament over the weekend, but I thought Spencer gave us everything he had and more. We faced the best pitcher the state has to offer and a great team. We have a chance to build off of this, even if we didn't win."

NOTES >> Lesher, Messner and Dum each had two hits and combined to go 6-for-8 with two runs and an RBI ... Both of Greencastle's throwing errors came on throws to first after sacrifice bunts.

West Perry 6, Greencastle 0

West PerryGreencastleabrhbabrhbLiesel rf3100Gayman ss3010Lesher cf3220Hansen cf3010Messner ss2020Ambeault c3000Dum p3021Kline 2b3000Raugh cr0100Parker lf3000Smeigh dh3000Brchmn 3b2000May c0000Measell 1b1000Bussom lf4111Keller dh2000Dolin 3b4110Meyers p0000Chiccini 2b3012Morgan rf2000Smith 1b3000Totals28694Totals22020
West Perry0004002—6Greencastle0000000—0

E: WP 0, GA 2; LOB: WP 6, GA 2; 2B: Dum; SAC: Messner, Lesher, Dum; SB: Liesel, Lesher, Dolin, Hansen, Measell; CS: Gayman.

West Perry pitching

Greencastle pitching

Myers (L, 0-2) 594403 Votral102033Keller100000

WP: Meyers.

T: 2:04.