Yough collects 17 hits, shuts out Charleroi

By Dean Dellamalva Jr.

MVI Sports

Yough earned a two-game sweep of Charleroi in the battle of the Cougars Tuesday at Vets Field. 

But game two was nothing like Monday’s contest.

Yough pounded out 17 hits in blanking Charleroi, 14-0, in five innings of a Section 4-3A bout. 

Vincent Martin led Yough’s Cougars by going 4 for 4 with a double, triple and three RBIs. Korvyn Johnson added three hits and two RBIs, and pitcher Christian Park held it down on the mound.

“I thought our approach at the plate today was much better than it was (Monday),” Yough coach Craig Spisak said. “We were more patient, swung at better pitches and made better contact.”

Charleroi pitcher Ben Shields was battered around, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits with three walks. Shields found the strike zone, but unfortunately for him, Yough hit the ball hard. 

“They hit the ball well, but we didn’t help ourselves with the errors,” said Charleroi coach Luke Mollis, whose team committed three errors behind Shields. “Not taking that away from them, but if we don’t make the errors, maybe it doesn’t get that far out of hand.

“(Shields) is going to have to develop another pitch. He’s got a curveball and a fastball, but he needs another one. He’s done OK for us this year as far as throwing strikes.”

Park had been making relief appearances thus far this year for Yough (3-4, 3-2) but proved he can also handle himself in a starting role. He went the distance, allowing just five hits, walking two and striking out seven for the win.

“(Park) was a last-second starter, I was actually going to start (Martin),” Spisak said. “He wasn’t feeling right so we wanted to give him a little more rest. Almost every inning, he fell behind the first hitter but settled down very nicely. He had better command as the game went on.”

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