BURTON—Independence split a rare home-away doubleheader on Saturday.
The Blue Devils opened the day with a 9-2 loss to Lake Ridge Academy then boarded a bus headed for Burton, where they topped Chagrin Valley Conference rival Berkshire, 17-4.
“This was a strange day having played a home game at 9:30 in the morning when it was about 35 degrees when it started and then getting on a bus to come here, but the way the weather has been, we’ve got to do that,” said Independence coach Mark Echstenkamper. “It was a tough game this morning. Lake Ridge is a tough team but I told our guys we’re playing for the CVC. That’s our No. 1 objective. The kids came out here and put together a nice game.”
Kevin Mooney was 2-for-2 with a double against Lake Ridge while Kyle Stefanski, Owen Ramm, Jordan Mallernee and Tim Marcinko each finished with one hit.
The Blue Devils knocked out 15 hits against the Badgers in game two.
Kyle Stefanski was 2-for-2 with three runs batted in while Nick Mroczynski, Ramm and Mallernee also finished with two hits. Mallernee and Andrew Teribery both knocked in three runs and Mallernee, Mroczynski and Teribery all doubled in the game.
Mallernee allowed our earned runs on 10 hits and struck out six to pick up the win.
“Jordan threw a nice game and we hit the ball really well,” Echstenkamper said. “I’m happy with what they did. We’ve got a big week next week with four league games. I like our pitching, it’s been solid, and we just have to keep hitting the ball.”
Bobby Czekaj was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Peter Brent hit a solo home run in the fifth inning for the Badgers.
