Grim's Shutout Propels South Past East

junior pitcher Gerrion Grim pitched his second shutout in two weeks Tuesday afternoon in a Gateway Athletic Conference North Contest against the  at the home of the Lions.

Grim struck out six batters for the Bulldogs, walked two, and gave up just two hits in the 7-0 win. The junior beat Washington 6-0 last week.  

“I just wanted to get ahead and make them swing at my pitch,” Grim said. “In my early starts I had trouble getting ahead.”

The South Bulldogs’ defense didn’t commit a single error in the contest. South banged out six hits, five of the six coming against East starting pitcher Eric Keling. Clayton Meyer replaced Keling in the fifth inning.  

“This was the best game we’ve played all year, without question,” South head coach Keith DeShurley said. “We came together. We have a little something extra to play for because we have a conference championship to win. We struggled at the beginning but since then we’ve put it together little by little put it together, but you get that many doubles and triples to right center and home runs to right, you’re doing something right.”

South improves to 9-8 overall and 3-0 in the GAC North Conference with the win.

East drops to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in the league.

On Tuesday, South and Fort Zumwalt North were the only GAC North teams undefeated in conference play. North had a conference game scheduled against Warrenton on Tuesday. Before the scheduled contest it had a 2-0 record in conference play.

Lion Coach Russ Hill said Grimm kept his team “in check” the whole game.

Bulldog third baseman Ryan Light led off the first inning with a home run.

“When you can jump on top early, it’s always good,” DeShurley said. “Ever since we started Ryan Light in the leadoff spot he’s really responded and hit the ball in the gaps.”  

Dan Seddon made the score 2-0 in the first when he scored after a Keling wild pitch. Cody Spotanski’s one-run single in the second inning gave South a 3-0 advantage. A Lion error allowed South to score its fourth run in the third.

The fifth would prove to be a big inning for the Bulldogs. Seddon led off the inning with a double and later came home to score when Grim doubled into centerfield. Drew Quinones’ two run homer brought Grim home and made the score 7-0.   

The contest was stopped in the sixth inning due to rain and lighting in the area. Light rain struck the field in the second inning but had disappeared by the third. A harder rain started hitting the field in the sixth.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: (008): The Fort Zumwalt East Lions get ready to take the field on Tuesday against the Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs.

PHOTO CAPTION 2: (009): The Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs warm up before Tuesday’s contest against Ft. Zumwalt East.

PHOTO CAPTION 3: (011): The Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs get ready to take the field against the Fort Zumwalt East Lions on Tuesday.

PHOTO CAPTION 4: (016): Fort Zumwalt East Coach Russ Hill (left) warms up his team before a contest against Fort Zumwalt South on Tuesday.

PHOTO CAPTION 5: (022): Fort Zumwalt South’s Ryan Light at bat against Fort Zumwalt East on Tuesday. Light led off the first inning with a home run.

PHOTO CAPTION 6: (025): Fort Zumwalt East Pitcher Eric Keling in Tuesday’s game against the Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs.

PHOTO CAPTION 7: (030): Fort Zumwalt East’s Branden Sugar at bat in Tuesday’s game against Fort Zumwalt South.