Things work when all the parts are in the right place.
Pleasant Grove executed in all phases of the game and run-ruled New Boston, 17-1, at Hawk Field on Tuesday.
Hawk pitchers Nick Voyles, Marshall Oubre and Tucker Anderson combined for a 2-hitter.
"Our pitchers came out and threw strikes," Pleasant Grove head coach Riley Fincher said. "We are going to throw strikes, put the ball in the zone and let our defense make plays behind them. Our three pitchers did exactly what we expected of them and did exactly what we asked of them."
Voyles got the win, walked two, and gave up a run on two hits.
Ben Harmon crushed a grand slam in the second frame to extend Pleasant Grove's lead, 6-1. The Hawks scored a run on an error to take a six-run lead going into the third.
Keaton Russo hammered a 2-run round tripper over the right-center field wall for PG to make it 17-1 in the fourth.
The Hawks plated eight runs in the third on five hits and four free passes. Jackson Cobb had a 2-run single, Russo hit a Texas Leaguer that drove in a run, Seth Hopkins smacked a 2-run doubled down the third base line, Ryan Galvan hit an RBI single, and Parker Twisdale laced in a 2-run triple down the first base line.
"We had a couple of strikeouts looking," Fincher said. "I was happy with the way the guys got up there and attacked. We don't care how we get on base, and then we will do what it takes offensively to score."
Brian Reid hit a stand-up double to left center to score Kyle Atkinson, who was hit by a pitch, to give New Boston an early 1-0 lead in the first. It was the first of just two hits for the Lions in the game, with Reid hitting a single toward third base in the third frame.
Pleasant Grove responded when Cobb smacked an RBI triple to deep right center to score Harmon, who had doubled down the third base line.
Cobb came across the plate on a passed ball to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead. Cobb went 4 for 4 at the dish with 3 RBI and two triples.
"It was good to see Jackson (Cobb) locked in tonight," Fincher said. "He has struggled a little bit this year, but he has come on as of late. In the last three games, Jackson has seen the ball well. In order for us to succeed, we need those guys 1-9 to be successful; we did a good job of that tonight."
Harmon was 2 for 3 with a grand slam, 4 RBI, a double, and a walk for Pleasant Grove. Russo was 2 for 3 with a home run, 2 RBI, and a single, while teammate Hopkins went 2 for 3 as he doubled, singled, and drove in two runs.
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New Boston 100 00 - 1 2 1
Pleasant Grove 258 2x - 17 0
Tyler Strain, Kyle Atkinson (3), Gage Smith (4), and Brian Reid. Nick Voyles, Marshall Oubre (3), Tucker Anderson (5) and Keaton Russo, Alex Murphy (5). WP-Voyles. LP-Strain. HR: PG-Ben Harmon, 2nd, 3 on; Keaton Russo, 4th, 1 on. Game ended after 4 1/2 innings, run rule.