Squirrels, Green struggle defensively in weekend losses, which is an anomaly

Baseball can be an easy game to analyze in terms of success or failure.

The Charleston Fighting Squirrels won their first two games of the “Big Nuts Classic” at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, in some regards by playing very solid defense.

That wasn’t the case in a pair of losses on Saturday, however.

The Fighting Squirrels (11-6) topped Mayfield (Ky.) Post 26 12-0 and the Post 9 Owensboro Bombers 7-2 on Friday, as they committed just two errors in the combined games. However, in a pair of losses (6-1 to Mountain Home Lockerroom and 4-2 to the Moberly Sixers), the Squirrels committed eight combined errors.

The performance on Saturday was an anomaly of sorts, particularly in terms of the play of its middle infield this summer, which is anchored by former Meadow Heights’ standout, Will Green.

Green had three errors in the combined four games.

“Will Green,” veteran Fighting Squirrel manager Michael Minner said of Green recently, “what a job he does defensively. Some of the plays that we haven’t been making over the past couple of years, he is up the middle, and if it isn’t a bullet up the middle, he’s making the play.”

Green started at shortstop in all four games this weekend. He paired with Jack Wyatt at second base in three of those games and Rafe Byasse in another.

“He makes (plays) look easy,” Minner said of Green following a recent win against rival Southeast Tropics. “That is the thing. He’s a defender. He talks about how much pride he takes in playing defense.

“He’s been fun to watch.”

As good as Green has been defensively, he was very solid at the plate this weekend.

In the opening win over Mayfield, Green hit lead-off and scored a pair of runs and drew a walk in two at-bats.

Against Owensboro, he drove in three runs while notching a hit and scoring a run.

In the two Friday games, he stole a combined four bases.

“He’s a gritty little guy,” Minner said of Green. “He is going out there to compete.”

Green had just one official at-bat against Mountain Home and had a connection in that appearance while walking twice.

Green closed the tournament by drawing a base-on-balls in two at-bats against Moberly.

The Fighting Squirrels will visit Paragould (Ark.) Legion at Bland Stadium on Tuesday at 5 p.m. for a doubleheader.