The Trenton Bulldogs continued preparations for Year #2 of the school’s baseball program on Monday afternoon, welcoming the Macon Tigers and Chillicothe Hornets to Burleigh Grimes Field for a three-team jamboree.
In the first contest, between Trenton and Macon, the Bulldogs pitching staff had trouble finding the strike zone early, with the first two pitchers (Farmer and Schilling) used by Coach Andy Hight giving up five walks and 10 runs, as the Tigers beat Trenton 12-1. Chase Otto came out of the Trenton bullpen to pitch effectively, throwing a scoreless inning. Avery Cooksey and Jaren Whitney also threw for the Bulldogs, with Cooksey allowing a walk and striking out a batter in a scoreless inning, while Whitney gave up two hits and two runs, with two base on balls, in an inning of work. Trenton’s only run scored in the bottom of the first inning, with a Colston sacrifice fly bringing in Avery Cooksey, who stole two bases in the contest.
In the final scrimmage of the night, Trenton hosted the rival Chillicothe Hornets, with CHS taking the decisive 12-0 victory. Sam Schilling got the start for Trenton, and gave up one earned run, with two walks and a strikeout in one inning of work. Hunter Dugan and Hunter Beverlin also got time on the mound for the Bulldogs. In the four innings against the Hornets, Trenton’s defense scuffled, with just three of the 12 runs scored by Chillicothe going under the “earned” status. Coach Hight, while recognizing that his team’s defense was not good, did admit that a part of the issue involved the shifting of players to numerous positions around the diamond.
The season opener for Trenton comes up Saturday at Burleigh Grimes Field, with the Bulldogs hosting the North Harrison Shamrocks. The doubleheader starts at 11 o’clock in the morning.
