Tate Virts of Marysville rips a base hit on Thursday during the opening day of the Omaha Classic. The Monarchs won their first two games of the tournament. (Photo submitted)
Tate Virts had a big day at the plate and on the mound Thursday as the Marysville Elite 17U baseball team opened the Omaha Classic with a pair of victories.
Virts went three-for-three and drove in a run during the Monarchs’ 11-0 run-rule victory over Belleville.
He scattered four hits during five innings on the bump, while fanning nine.
Marysville ripped Belleville pitching for 10 hits.
Jacob Wright had a trio of hits in as many trips to the plate, while Garrett North and Tyler Drope each had two.
Wright and Drope each drove in three runs.
Virts had two hits during the nightcap when the Monarchs clubbed Brighton by a 9-1 verdict.
Kaleb Schultz and Garrett Lobdell led Marysville’s 12-hit attack with both notching three.
Schultz homered while driving in two runs, while Lobdell had one ribbie.
Gavin Sharp and Drope each had two hits.
Drew Eaches, coming off a solid win last weekend during the Monarch Classic, was the winning pitcher.
He struck out 11 while tossing a one-hitter.
The Monarchs were scheduled to play two games this morning.
Later today, the team was scheduled to tour TD Ameritrade Park, which is the site of the 2017 College World Series.
The Monarchs will attend one of the World Series games tonight and will be among the summer teams that will be introduced to those in attendance.