MRH Wins First District Game in Blowout

Maplewood Richmond Heights used 11 hits, including three triples and a double, to win the Blue Devils' first-round district tournament game against Cleveland NJROTC on Tuesday night at .

Seven players tallied a hit and eight crossed home plate in the 17-2 victory that ended in five innings.

"It was really great to see contributions from some guys one through nine today," MRH coach Jonathan Webb said. "We got a decent performance from Tony Biedenstein on the mound, and if you throw strikes, you put the ball in play, and you spray it around, then you'll be successful."

Senior Charles Boclair sparked the Blue Devils early when he hit a triple off of the very first pitch. MRH took a 2-0 lead after one inning.

"I just knew to hit the ball hard and make contact," Boclair said. "I'm glad it went where it did."

Sophomore Zach Joyce, hitting from the nine spot in the lineup, doubled to start things in the second. The Blue Devils scored four in the inning to Cleveland's one. Joyce went on to hit two singles to go along with his double.

"Zach Joyce is the guy," Webb said. "We kept plugging him in there. He's got good talent, but we hadn't quite got him coming around. Today he ends up three for three."

MRH used a six-hit, 10-run fourth to put the gane away. Senior Kevin Sapp had two hits in the inning and went 3-4 in the game with a double and two singles.

Cleveland's head coach has been out for most of the season, so the team was coached by athletic director Julie Metzger. She said the team is primarily comprised of sophomores and they've stepped it up and improved over the season.

MRH, the three seed in the tournament, plays Barat Academy, the two seed, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Barat won its first-round game against Crossroads on Tuesday night with a 14-4 score. MRH and lost 15-2.

Brentwood, the one seed, had a first-round bye and will play its first tournament game at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.