Bulldogs score dozen in conference opener

CADET – The dangerous West County offense capitalized on 10 walks from Kingston pitching after logging just two hits through five innings on Thursday, and opened MAAA Small-School play with a 12-0 road victory.

Third baseman Cody Watson finished 2-for-3 and collected three RBI on a pair of doubles, while Kyle Nettles went 2-for-4 with four RBI for the Bulldogs. Lead-off man Tyler Stacy reached base five times and scored three runs.

West County (2-0) was paced by excellent pitching from freshman Zac Turner, who recorded seven strikeouts while turning in five scoreless innings to win his varsity debut. Turner scattered four hits and walked one batter.

Kingston starter Brad Merseal allowed two hits and struck out six during his four frames on the mound, but fell behind in the second when Coty Shannon walked and scored on a Trevor Kean ground out.

A pair of wild pitches helped another run score in the third, and Bulldogs catcher Michael Harp made it 3-0 with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Watson created more separation in the fourth with a two-run double to center field.

Kingston earned its best scoring chance in bottom of the fourth after consecutive singles from Merseal and Dusty Bay put runners at the corners, but Turner fanned the next two hitters and escaped danger with a pop-up along the infield.

Nettles highlighted a productive sixth for the Bulldogs against reliever Jimmy Nash by ripping a 3-0 pitch to left for a two-run single. Kingston turned a double play later in the frame but not before Harp singled home Watson for an 8-0 advantage.

Watson followed a pinch-double from Kyle Harrison with a long drive that slammed off the left-center fence in the seventh, and Nettles increased the margin with his two-run double.

Reliever Justin Lashley completed the shutout with two effective innings, and earned a single and walk in two plate appearances for West County.

Frankie Guenther and Nash each added singles for the Cougars (0-2), who stranded eight runners on base.

West County  012 203 4 – 12  8  2

Kingston  000 000 0 – 0  4  1

WP – Turner 5ip 0r 4h 7k 1bb.

LP – Merseal 4ip 5r 4er 2h 6k 6bb.

Hitting:

West County – Watson 2-3, Nettles 2-4, Harrison 1-1, Lashley 1-1, Stacy 1-3, Harp 1-3. 2b – Watson 2, Nettles, Harrison.

Kingston – Guenther 1-2, Bay 1-3, Merseal 1-3, Nash 1-4.