Baseball

NAPPANEE, Ind. – The Griffith Generals continued to make progress in their quest to turn around their season as they beat the Elkhart County Miracle 13-3 on the road. The Generals roughed up Miracle pitching by collecting 12 hits and putting up 11 runs between the fourth and sixth innings. Osvaldo Ballesteros also had a quality start for Griffith, only giving up two runs in six innings.

“It was the first day we really came together offensively,” said manager Peter Romsek. Kyler Lapp and Mark Ross got their first hits and RBIs of the season, ending cold starts. “Apparently it’s better to barrel one in the hole than it is to barrel it to center. That’s baseball,” quipped Lapp after his first hit of the year found daylight on the left side of the infield after he flew out to center his previous at-bat.

Romsek also praised Ross for “sticking with it” after an 0-20 start at the plate before his RBI double. “I’m happy for him. He’s a glue piece. High energy guy. He’s stuck with it and gone out every day the right way, and it paid off with a big knock.” Ross put his hands in the air and flashed his signature smile at the Generals dugout from second base after his big hit.

Jordan Landkrohn continued his hot week at the plate, going 3-5 with two RBI. He now leads the Generals with a .333 average and is tied with Billy Jones for the team RBI lead with five. The Generals increased their team batting average from .166 to .185 in tonight's victory.

On a more solemn note, the Generals may be down one of their premier defenders in Jackson McFarland for some time. On an RBI triple in the fourth inning, McFarland slid into third base head-first and showed immediate discomfort after the play, clutching his left shoulder. “It sounds like it’s dislocated,” said Romsek about early indications of the injury. McFarland is getting X-rays to determine the extent of the damage. Romsek stayed behind in Elkhart County to support his first basemen.

The Generals will return to Lake County, the venue of their game Friday, to take on the Corn Dogs in a 4 p.m. game, the sixth game out of 13 straight for Griffith.

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