Admirals early lead too much for Model to overcome

After the Patriots dug themselves a 15-0 hole, they settled down and allowed only eight more runs the final three innings Wednesday.

Four of those came off a grand slam in the fourth inning as Danville cruised 23-2 over Model Laboratory in Richmond.

“We buckled down,” Model coach Chris Robinson said. “I had one injury to start the game and had to shift everybody around. We are developing and learning.”

Senior outfielder Mark Little missed the first three innings with a hand injury, but came in during the fourth and drew a walk in his only at-bat.

David Weyrauch, in his first baseball game, broke up a no-hitter in the second inning with a hard infield grounder. However, he got picked off trying to steal one batter later.

In the third inning, Turner Curtis walked and then scored two batters later on an RBI double by Adam Humphreys.

“We didn’t get down and we had the potential there to get down on ourselves,” Robinson said. “But, the kids rallied around and did a good job. I’m proud of them for that.”

Model (1-7) had a rocky start with three straight errors as Danville opened a seven-run lead.

The Admirals (10-4) batted around almost three times in the first two innings, but Robinson believed that starting pitcher Nick Dunaway did a good job.

“Seventeen unearned runs really kill you,” Robinson said. “Nick really pitched an excellent game. His first five or six batters were all outs. I was really impressed with him today. But, we are having a rebuilding year.”

Dunaway also continued to hit the ball well, going two-for-three with a single and a double as Model started hitting the ball in the final two innings. Travis Will had a single in the fourth and Taylor Billings started the fifth with a double off the left field fence. He later came in to score on a double steal.

The Patriots return to action at 5:30 p.m. today at Powell County.