Bluejays Soaring On Diamond
The North Judson-San Pierre High School baseball team looks like it very well might run away with the Hoosier North Athletic Conference championship this spring and should be a force to be reckoned come sectional time.
The Bluejays are currently riding a 10-game winning streak, which has improved their overall record to 11-3, 7-0 in the HNAC. To be honest, a strong case could be made that they will run the table and win their final dozen regular-season games remaining.
Heading into this weekend’s play, the Bluejays have won those 10 straight by an average margin of victory of eight runs (11.3-3.3) during the winning streak.
It’s hard to believe this was a team that started the season losing three of its first four games.
Believe it.
Losses to Kouts, Hebron and Kankakee Valley seemed to really wake the Bluejays up.
Since losing to Valley on April 15, the Bluejays have been rolling.
MAX 98.3 FM WYMR broadcasted one of those games during the winning streak when North Judson-San Pierre won 7-2 April 27 at LaVille.
Against the Lancers, the Bluejays got an impressive pitching performance from sophomore Caleb Ginder. He nearly pitched a complete game, allowing just one earned run, while striking out six to go along with five walks. Ginder pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning thanks to a pair of strike outs to end the frame.
Ginder also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second.
The Bluejays’ leadoff man Aldric Harper reached base on three of his five plate appearances and scored three times.
Centerfielder Damien Frasure walked three times in four trips to the place, scoring once.
Catcher Trey McGowen also walked on three occasions and scored once.
First baseman Troy Tripenfeldas scored once for the Bluejays as did shortstop Quinton Frasure.
Ginder and reliever Tyler Barnhart allowed just two hits over the seven innings as North Judson-San Pierre’s cause was aided by LaVille’s five errors.
The win over LaVille gave the Bluejays a commanding multiple-game lead in the HNAC.
Ginder has emerged as North Judson-San Pierre’s ace. He has a team-leading 1.20 ERA and has a 4-1 record.
Barnhart has been solid on the mound, too. He’s 3-1 with a 4.26 ERA. Barnhart has 27 strike outs in 24.2 innings pitched.
Against the Lancers, Harper reached base on three of his five plate appearances, drawing a pair of walks and getting a single. He’s leading his team in batting average (.487) and on-base percentage (.636). The leadoff man is second on the Bluejays team in stolen bases (15), hits (19) and RBI (14).
Quinton Frasure bats second in the Bluejays’ lineup and is second on the team in batting average (.447). He has a team-best 16 stolen bases, 22 runs scored and 21 hits (which includes a pair of triples).
Next up is a doubleheader at home against Caston (7-6, 4-3) on Saturday before a trip to Winamac (4-10, 4-4) on Tuesday.
A back-to-back two-game series against Pioneer (8-5, 4-2) looms May 11-12, which could for all practical purposes clinch the conference championship for the Bluejays.
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