By Brad Greer
In a early season battle of undefeated teams, a trio of pitchers combined on a shutout to guide the A’s to a 4-0 win over the Yankees in American Legion play Thursday night.
Bowen Williams, Jay Potts and Forrest Pierce surrendered two hits on the night while striking out 12 . Each hurler threw two innings each with Williams fanning five of the eight batters he faced. Potts struck out four while giving up one hit in the third and fourth innings before Pierce closed out the game with three strikeouts and two walks.
The A’s scratched across all the runs they would need with three runs in the bottom of the first when Pierce delivered a two-run single to drive in Potts and Decota Perry. Drew Dunlap singled and later scored on a wild pitch. The A’s added their final run in the fifth on an RBI single from Williams.
Potts led the way offensively with two singles while Williams added a triple. Blake Shive also contributed with a single in the winning effort.
Drake Barton and Caleb West singled for the only Yankee hits of the night.
In the opening game of the day, the Red Sox picked up their its first win with a 8-2 victory over the Royals.
The Sox put up seven runs in the top of the first on one hit to put the game away early. Luke Weldon slapped a two-run single up the middle to plate Nathan Walls and Denver Brown for a 2-0 lead, The remaining Red Sox runs came as a result of numerous wild pitches. Ian Cole accounted for the final run in the following inning as he reached on a fielders choice and later scored on a wild pitch.
The Royals avoided the shutout in the fourth by scoring two runs on three hits as Keshaun Lantern, Dalton Barefoot and Brandon Phelps strung together three consecutive singles. Caleb Lantern also contributed with a single. Brett Goss, Dre Moore, Barefoot and Phelps all saw time on the mound for the Royals.