Mustangs beat Grant County in region

NEW CASTLE – After a slight case of the first-time region shakes, the North Oldham baseball team settled in to beat Grant County 8-1 Monday in the opening round of the Eighth Region tournament.“We started off a little shaky with an error in the infield and a dropped ball in the oufield that basically gave them their run,” NOHS coach Matt Walker said. “After that, we kind of regrouped and really played well.”NOHS’ offense came alive with sophomore Mike Gant going three-for-four at the plate with three singles. Senior first baseman Nick Harley also had a hot bat, getting two hits including a run scoring double.Senior center fielder Matt Dearmond also came through with two hits and an RBI double for the Mustangs.“Everybody swung the bats well, we hit the ball hard all day,” Walker said. “It was a total team effort.”NOHS also rode a solid pitching effort from junior Jason Sterrett who refused to allow getting beaned on the helmet slow him down.Sterrett went the distance and gave up just three hits, two of which were infield singles.He walked just three and struck out eight.“He threw a great game,” Walker said. “The ball hit him pretty hard in the back of the helmet. He’s tough, he came right back and said he wanted to stay in and he battled and competed the last two innings to get the complete game.”Walker said the Mustangs also showed a vast improvement in their overall game.“One thing we did do and for probably the first time all year was play a full seven innings,” Walker said. “Even with the two errors early, we stayed right in the game the whole way.”

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