CONNERSVILLE — The name of the game this year for Pendleton Heights baseball has been pitching, and this week has been no exception. Whether it has been a one-man show or a group effort, the Arabian pitching staff is getting the job done.
Seniors Chayce McDermott and Eston Stull took turns shutting down conference foe Mt. Vernon in a Monday doubleheader sweep, and four Arabians combined on a five-hitter Wednesday to upend Connersville 4-1, moving Pendleton Heights to 13-3 on the season.
Against the Spartans, it was Bryce Riggs, Sam Isaacs and Nate Norris hurling two innings each and Zach Lawhon throwing one inning. They walked none, struck out six and gave up just five hits, with Isaacs picking up the win.
Stull and Brandon Helpling collected two hits each for the Arabians, while Phil Lawson drove in a pair in the first inning to put the Arabians on top to stay.
In Monday’s doubleheader, postponed because of rain Friday and Saturday, it was the one-two punch of McDermott and Stull that kept the Marauders at bay.
In the opener, McDermott faced two over the minimum in pitching the complete game. He struck out 15 and walked none, giving up just two hits, including a solo home run to Cooper Williams for the only Mt. Vernon score of the game.
Offensively, senior Adam Carr homered and drove in four runs to lead the way for Pendleton Heights. Seniors Matt Vetor and Corbin Cox had two hits and an RBI each, and Helpling drove in one.
McDermott now stands at 4-1 on the season with a 1.47 earned run average. He has been nearly unhittable since one shaky inning in the opener against New Castle.
Stull has been keeping pace with McDermott on the mound.
In the second game, Stull struck out 10 batters in six innings and allowed just one hit and a walk as the Arabians blanked Mt. Vernon 4-0 to move to 7-1 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. Just for good measure, Stull also hammered a two-run homer to straightaway center field, more than 385 feet away to help pace the Pendleton Heights offense.
Stull is now 5-0 on the mound with a 1.38 ERA. In 54 combined innings this season, McDermott and Stull have allowed just 21 hits and have struck out 93.
Cox added a two-run homer of his own and pitched a shutout inning in relief.
The Arabians are scheduled to play another conference double header Friday at Greenfield-Central.
