The Warrenton Warriors used a strong first inning and Joe Goldsmith’s three-run home run in the fourth inning to beat Elsberry by 10 runs last week.
Warrenton (13-9) beat Elsberry 15-5 in five innings. The Warriors led 4-0 after the first inning. They led 11-2 after four innings after Goldsmith hit a three-run home run to left field. Goldsmith had five RBIs in the game.
“It was a little bit of a spark when Joe struck the ball well,” Warrenton baseball coach Eric Burle said. “The kids feed off that. So that was definitely a little bit of a spark for the team. That was big for him too because that gives him some more confidence moving forward.”
After Ben Peth threw a scoreless top of the first inning, Warrenton scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first four batters all reached base. Troy Anderson led off the inning with a double. Caleb Clark was hit by a pitch and Kannon Hibbs reached on an error to load the bases with no one out. Bailey Meyer hit a single to score Anderson. After Clark was thrown out at home on Tyler Oliver’s flyout, the Warriors scored three more runs. Hibbs scored on Joe Goldsmith’s ground ball to third base. Meyer scored on Austin Haas’ single. Goldsmith scored the fourth run of the inning.
“We hit the ball well today,” Burle said. “They came and scored early. Caleb got thrown out at home which could have been a big, big play, but we came up with some big runs after that.”
Warrenton scored two more runs in the third inning to increase the lead to 6-0. The Warriors loaded the bases with no one out. Sam Wortham and Meyer were both hit by a pitch. Oliver walked to load the bases. Wortham scored on Goldsmith’s RBI single. Meyer scored on Dylan Beck’s bases loaded walk.
After Elsberry scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning, Warrenton responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Warriors scored five runs before Elsberry recorded an out in the inning. Clark led off the inning with a single and Wortham reached on an error. Meyer drew a walk to load the bases with no one out. Oliver hit two-run single to give the Warriors a 8-2 lead. Goldsmith followed Oliver’s single with a three-run home run to give Warrenton a 11-2 lead.
After Elsberry scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning, Warrenton scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to clinch the victory. Clark scored on Goldsmith’s RBI fielder’s choice. Beck hit a two-run single to give Warrenton a nine-run lead. Haas scored the winning run at home.
“It was important to answer,” Burle said. “When they score and you’re able to answer back to kind of get a little bit of that momentum back or shift it a little bit is important.”
Warrenton dropped a game to Duchesne 8-2 Thursday. Oliver had two RBIs. Clark and Collin Disilvister each scored one run.
Warrenton was scheduled to play at Union High School yesterday. They are scheduled to host St. Charles West Thursday.