Matt Hubbard approaches home plate after hitting a home run to give Perrysburg a 4-2 lead in the third inning against Wayne Trace on Tuesday. (Nicholas Huenefeld | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
PERRYSBURG — Matt Hubbard went 2-for-3 with a triple and a home run as the Perrysburg baseball team produced an 8-3 win over Wayne Trace on Tuesday at Leyland Field in what was a tournament tune-up for both programs.
The Yellow Jackets (21-7), who will take on Ashland in a district semifinal on Wednesday, took down the 14th-ranked team in Division III for the program’s 14th win over the past 16 contests.
“It gives us a little bit of confidence,” Perrysburg coach Dave Hall said. “We’d been struggling a little bit the past two weeks as far as hitting. The last week we started to hit, and today we kept it going I think. Obviously, we’re going to see a pretty good pitcher tomorrow. Hopefully it carries over.”
Outside of Hubbard, Perrysburg also got a 2-for-2 performance from Trent Bezek, who added four stolen bases, three runs and a walk. Connor Kessinger went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored from the leadoff spot, and Brady Zilles was 1-for-2 with two runs, two walks and an RBI.
Wayne Trace (20-6), which will play Liberty-Benton in a Division III district semifinal on Thursday and has a potential district final against Eastwood, jumped out to an early lead against Perrysburg behind Kyle Forrer’s two-run double down the left field line in the first.
The Yellow Jackets, however, scored a combined seven runs in the third and fourth innings to take control.
“I thought we hit the ball hard all seven innings,” Hall said. “We had some big barrels. (Wayne Trace) made some nice plays early. The kids didn’t get frustrated, and then we had the big four spot in the third inning with the home run, which helped. I thought our pitching was really good for the most part. We made the plays. It was what we needed to get ready for tomorrow.”
Kessinger’s RBI double to center got things started, and Hubbard sent a line drive over the left field fence on a 3-0 pitch for a 4-2 lead through three.
Hubbard’s triple to left in the fourth highlighted a three-run outburst, giving Perrysburg a 7-2 lead for Aaron Banks, who tossed two innings in relief to pick up the victory.
Moving forward, the Yellow Jackets will look to continue their momentum on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Carter Park.
“Our pitching has gotten extremely good,” Hall said. “I trust everybody we put out there. We played well defensively all year, and we’re starting to get some hits when it counts. Kids are getting bunts down. We’re starting to play small ball a little bit better. We’re peaking at the right time hopefully.”
