After getting out of a jam in the first, University put up three runs in the second against Kenston on April 4. It was smooth sailing for the Preppers from there on. They continue a strong start to the season, winning, 6-0, and moving to 5-0 on the season. Kenston fell to the inverse, 0-5. Crew Bell an worked well out of the first-inning issues. After Kenston had a leadoff single by Grady Flynn and another single from Grayson Bishof plus a steal, there were runners in scoring position with one out. But the junior got two swinging strikeouts to end the threat and send it to the bottom of the inning. After a quiet two half innings, the Preppers took advantage in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Bobby Berglund and Cayden Zelenak had singles to get on. Then James Bucci, from the nine-hole, drove in a run on a single. Then Bryce Fielding and Aaron Moss drove in runs at the top of the order. Coach Rob McNerney knew having the bottom of the order able to hit as well adds another threat to the Preppers. “I think that was a bit of a question mark coming into the year, certainly,” McNerney said. “Super impressed with the fact that I think all of our runs came with two outs. When you start getting that sort of contribution just gives confidence to everybody else. It’s also a little bit demoralizing to the other team. Today, the ball wasn’t carrying, balls were dying out there. They made some great plays in the outfield. Our guys made some great plays in the outfield.” Zelenak was just getting started with his second-inning hit. He came back in the third with two on after a Carson Ryan walk and a Berglund single. Zeleak sent a shot to right that drove in another to make it 4-0 University. “I was really just waiting for my pitch,” Zelenak said. “I was looking back side, all the way through. That’s where I get most of my hits and going all the way through the ball.” He added another in the fifth, again to right, that fell just in front of a lunging Bombers glove. With a plethora of strong bats back from a season ago, Zelenak flew a little under the radar after hitting .256 with 10 runs driven in. But that was fine with him. Zelenak just wanted to help with the team’s momentum and add to the depth of the Preppers. “My big thing has been just doing what I can to help the team,” Zelenak said. “I was doing whatever I could do to help the guys and taking advantage when I could. The big thing is we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to play our game and keep our morale up.” The last run came from a Tucker Greer hit to short that was offline to first base that was a deadball and Deacon Nelson came across the plate. But all Bellan needed was a little insurance. He went the distance, struck out seven and gave up just four hits. McNerney has been excited with how some new names have adjusted to being in the pitching order. “I would say what’s impressed me the most is the confidence that guys like Crew and Slater have taken with the ball in their hand,” McNerney said. “They’ve really competed, they haven’t shied away from moments. We’ve played some really good teams in Brunswick and Kenston. So for the pitching performances that we got out of those two guys that again, aren’t the big names, they’re not Evan (Shapiro), they’re not Aaron. I think that’s huge for their development.” Even with the limited hits, Kenston had chances to get back in the game. The Bombers had five left on base in the contest. Coach Joe Hritz knows there is a lot of potential in the lineup, but it needs some tweaking. The experience is going to be impactful as the season continues. Hritz was also very happy with the work from freshman Bryan Kuchta on the bump. “I’m going to take that one on me,” Hritz said. “I think we need a little bit of spark somewhere. We had guys on second and third in the first inning with one out, didn’t push runs across. That hurts in a sense of putting the ball in play and just getting a run right off the bat to kind of spark something. Our bats, we need to hit a little better. It’s a freshman on the mound. He bulldog through a very tough lineup in University, so I’ll give him all the credit in the world for that.” Kenston concludes a six-game road trip to open the season, playing at Mentor on April 5. University also has a quick turnaround as the Preppers host Louisville on April 5. THE SCORE University 6, Kenston 0 ...read more read less