Oran takes wild route past Zalma, wins 15-2

ORAN -- Patience was Oran's deadliest weapon at the plate Thursday.

The Eagles coaxed 11 walks and four Oran hitters got hit by pitches as the Eagles earned the 15-2 five-inning victory over Zalma.

Oran only collected six hits, but five of them were for extra bases. Steven Dooley delivered one of the biggest hits, a bases-loaded triple with two outs to push Oran's lead to 12-0 in the third inning.

"I just wanted to hit it hard some place," Dooley said. "I knew the last time I flied out to center, and I tried not to do that again. It worked out for the best."

Oran pushed across three runs in the first on two hits, a walk and three hit batters. In the second, the Eagles scored three on one hit and three walks. They added six more in the third on two hits, an error and five walks.

Zalma starter Nick Montgomery finished with nine walks and three hit batters in three innings. He struck out two.

"I take out of this that we played fundamentally sound today in the field," Zalma coach Dwyght Ford said. "We put the bat on the ball a few times. The walks and the hit batters really killed us."

Dooley said it can be difficult to hit when a pitcher struggles with his control. He said the key is waiting for the right pitch.

"I had quite a bit of time to make up my mind to swing," Dooley said. "It's just see the ball and drive it."

Oran got a strong pitching performance from Cody Dirnberger, who started and went two innings. He struck out four and walked one.

"I felt good," Dirnberger said. "I didn't like the wind at all today. Other than that, I felt pretty good. I didn't pitch a whole lot last year. This is my first year starting. I like pitching the second game of the season."

Alex Chasteen and Dooley should see plenty of action on the mound this season, but Dirnberger's performance Thursday could result in more innings on the mound.

"We need a lot of good pitching," Dirnberger said. "I just think last year our pitching kind of failed us in going to state. The more pitching, the better we're going to be."

The Bulldogs put together a nice rally in the fifth inning when they took advantage of four walks. Bobby Kuper laced a double to center field to score Stephen Simmers, who had walked.

Even though the Eagles (2-0) put the Bulldogs (0-2) away early, Dooley said he and his teammates didn't lose focus. They were just thankful to be outside playing baseball. In fact, the teams played an extra two innings after the 10-rule rule was invoked.

"Right now it's just fun," Dooley said. "It's playing baseball."

Zalma00002--212

Oran3363x--1561

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:WP -- Cody Dirnberger. LP -- Nick Montgomery. 2B -- Dillon Glastetter (O), Tyler Beardslee (O), Jayden Pobst (O), Bobby Kuper (Z). 3B -- Kody Campbell (O), Steven Dooley (O). Records -- Oran 2-0, Zalma 0-2.