The Winona Christian Stars started out the baseball season with a bang by sweeping a doubleheader from North Delta The Stars won the opener 7-5 and then took the nightcap 12-3.
“I thought we were very much improved on defense,” Self said. “We were able to pitch a lot of kids. Overall, I was pleased with the pitching. We have stressed defense so much and I was pleased with the first couple of games. We played way better on defense. We made some errors and didn’t hit well with two strikes like I wanted to but we are going to work on that."
The Stars were scheduled to play Kirk on Tuesday last week and then play in the Jackson Victors Tournament on Friday and Saturday but those games were canceled.
The Stars will return to action this week as they travel to Ethel on Tuesday and host North Delta Academy on Thursday. Winona will travel to French Camp on Friday to end the week.
Winona Christian 7, North Delta 5
The Stars took advantage of five walks and four errors to take a two-run win over North Delta in the season opener on Thursday. North Delta led 2-0 after the first before Winona scored four in the third and three in the fourth to lead 7-3 after four. North Delta added two run-in the fifth for the final.
Winona only had three hits but Blake Marlow had a two-run home run while Corley Goss added a double. Choyce Diffey singled and scored a run and had an RBI. Diffey and Reed Roberts each had stolen bases.
Blake Marlow got the start and pitched two innings, giving up two runs on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Deuce Irwin pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. John White came in and go the last two outs on four pitches.
Winona Christian 12, North Delta 3
The Stars scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a nine-run win over the Wave in the second game of the doubleheader on Thursday.
Winona scored two in the first and second innings before scoring eight in the fifth.
The Stars had six hits on the day and took advantage of eight walks. Reed Roberts was 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. Corley Goss singled, had two walks, stole two bases and scored three runs while Blake Marlow and Hayden Self singled and drove in two runs. John White also scored two runs while Matthew Rigby had a double.
Latham Hill got the start and pitched one scoreless inning, striking out three. Cade Marlow pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out seven. Reed Roberts pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and gave up one unearned run on one hit while striking out two.
