It will be highly likely that not one high school baseball team will finish with a perfect season, but the Guthrie High School baseball team is enjoying the moment with a good start.
The Bluejays, led by first-year head coach Terry Bennett Jr., scored five runs in the fourth Monday night inside Squires Field to pick up a crucial district win over El Reno.
Junior right-hander Luke Hubbard provided seven quality innings on the mound by holding the Indians to one run in the 6-1 victory on 105 pitches. Hubbard struck out seven while only allowing one base on balls.
El Reno scored the game’s first run in the fourth, but the lead did not remain for long with the five Bluejay runs coming in the bottom half of the inning.
Senior catcher Carson Wilder began the inning off by reaching on an error which was followed up by senior Zach Henry’s single. Freshmen Jace Rainwater, courtesy running for Wilder, scored the Jays first run off another Indians error. Henry scored next on a wild pitch.
Junior Niko Pena delivered an RBI double to plate Hubbard to increase the lead to 3-1. Senior Josh Dement put down a picture-perfect bunt that set up senior Jackson Walters RBI triple as he shot the gap in left-center field. As Walters slid into the third base, the ball found the Indians’ dugout to bring Waltes home and the Jays a 5-1 lead.
Guthrie added an insurance run in the sixth once again with the duo of Dement and Walters. Dement reached base on a walk before stealing second base. Walters delivered an RBI single up the middle to bring Dement home.
Walters, Dement, and Henry lead the offense with two hits each.
In a losing effort, El Reno’s right-handed ace pitcher, Davin Shamblin, did well by collecting eight strikeouts and allowing only two earned runs as he kept the Jays off balance for a good part of the game.
The Jays are now 4-0 in district play with 16-3 and 12-1 wins over Del City earlier this month.
A good resume win came back on March 9 when the Jays took down the defending 5A champion Duncan Demons, 4-3, in an exciting game.
Guthrie is on the road Tuesday as they travel to El Reno for another key district game. They return home on Monday when they host Southeast.
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