Jonathan Alder’s Tyler Barton prepares to fire the ball toward the plate against North Union. The Pioneers won, 9-0.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
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There is not really much flash-and-dash to the Jonathan Alder baseball team.
But what the Pioneers are doing this season is taking a page from what former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichek preached each day.
“Do your job” is what was reported Belichek would tell his team.
JA baseball head coach Craig Kyle has seen that same thing from his squad.
“Rule number one is don’t beat yourself and that calls for execution,” Kyle said.
The execution could be seen throughout Friday’s 9-0 Central Buckeye Conference victory over North Union at Jonathan Alder.
The Pioneers got people on base and without a lot fanfare, moved them around until a run was scored.
Kyle said they made the “routine plays like we have all year” on defense and got a strong six-inning pitching performance from junior Tyler Barton.
It all added up to the Pioneers winning for the 10th time in 11 games and remaining unbeaten (8-0) in the CBC.
Barton limited the Wildcats (5-5, 2-5) to just three hits while striking out seven and walking three.
Andy Yoder came to the mound in the seventh inning.
Barton had a little trouble in the first inning as Tyler Krebehenne and Landon Converse each singled three batters into the game.
Barton got of the jam, retiring the last two batters.
He then allowed just one more hit, a single by Mason Bright, over the next five innings.
“I was able to mix in my fastball and curve ball,” Barton said. “I got my curve ball on the plate no matter the count.”
He also credited the defense that played behind him.
“It was a lot easier to pitch with a great defense,” Barton said.
“Tyler did a good job coming back from the first inning,” Kyle said. “He settled in after that and was able to locate his pitches.”
North Union coach Nick Blakeley knew his team would have to be perfect if the Wildcats were to win.
“We gave them chances and they put the ball in play,” Blakeley said. “We could not muster up anything on offense.”
North Union pitchers issued eight walks and committed three errors.
The Pioneers scored twice in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Chase Chapin and a single from Grant Horne.
They followed with a four-run fourth inning.
Chapin and Yoder each had run-scoring singles.
Alder made it 7-0 in the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch and a ground out by Garrett Roach.
The Pioneers tallied their final run in the sixth on an RBI-double by Cam Potter.
NU 000 000 0—0-4-3
JA 020 421 x—9-10-1
WP—Barton; LP—Potts