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BlueSox shut out visiting Kokomo

Lemasters pitches 7 scoreless innings in 7-0 victory

It is one thing for a pitcher to say he’s put a bad start behind him, but proving it on the field can be difficult.

David Lemasters made it look easy Wednesday night.

Butler’s right-hander pitched seven shutout innings, striking out a season-high 12 batters and walking three to lead the BlueSox to a 7-0 Prospect League baseball victory against Kokomo at Kelly Automotive Park.

“Every pitch was working for me,” said Lemasters. “I just felt good out there, a lot better than my last start.”

His last start lasted just three innings in a loss to Lafayette July 20. Lemasters gave up six runs (four earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out just one.

Lemasters seemed to get stronger as he got deeper into Wednesday’s game. He stranded a total of six baserunners over the first three innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the top of the third. He then retired the Jackrabbits (12-9) in order in the fourth and sixth.

Lemasters had previously shown flashes of his strikeout ability, fanning eight in seven innings in a win over Champion City July 10. But he reached another level against Kokomo.

“He has the potential to be a strikeout guy,” said Butler manager Jason Radwan. “He has five pitches, throws hard and has good offspeed stuff.”

“Tonight, I tried to get a first-pitch strike with my fastball,” said Lemasters. “I had them guessing after that.”

Butler’s offense bunched its hits together, beginning in the first inning against Kokomo starter Evan Lovick. The Sox tallied three hits in the frame, the last an RBI-single from Dillon Sunnafrank that plated James Meeker. Lovick also walked three in the inning, including a free pass to Dalton Hoiles with the bases loaded that brought home a second run.

Lovick got out of the first, but when the bottom of the second rolled around, it was Trey Bickel on the mound.

Butler (8-11) was not kind to the reliever, scoring two more runs as Will Schneider and Jamie Switalski both managed RBI-doubles.

The offense was a welcomed sight for Lemasters.

“It helps a lot when the hitters are hitting,” he said.

Bickel settled things down for the Jackrabbits, working three straight scoreless innings from the third through the fifth. Butler’s offense, however, scored an insurance run in its final three at-bats. Tyler Sullivan, Nick Stotler and Schneider were all credited with a run batted in during that span.

Schneider led the offense with three hits, but six different Sox players scored a run and the RBI were also spread out amongst six players.

“This offense is what we’ve been hoping for,” said Radwan. “We’ve been struggling and it was good to see the whole lineup swing the bat well.”

Zach Patterson and Nolan Krivijanski worked the eight and ninth, respectively. In all, Butler’s trio of pitchers struck out 15 and walked just three.

Kokomo 000 000 000 — 0 7 1

Butler 220 001 11x — 7 11 1

W: David Lemasters 7 IP (12K, 3BB). L: Evan Lovick 1 IP (0K, 3BB).

Kokomo (12-9): Lance Mays 2B, Mitch Stoltzfus 2B, Brody Andrews 1B, Connor Dall 1B, Chris Amato 1B, Logan Barnes 1B 2B

Butler (8-11): Tyler Sullivan 2B 2R RBI, Will Schneider 2-1B 2B R 2RBI, James Meeker 1B R, Jamie Switalski 2B R RBI, Dillon Sunnafrank 2-1B R RBI, Nick Stotler 2B RBI, Dalton Hoiles 1B R RBI, Zach Mathias 1B

Today: Kokomo at Butler

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