CADIZ - As far as Brandt Mazeroski is concered, this one was long overdue.
Off to a struggling 3-8 start, Cadiz Post 34 finally put together a complete game performance all at the expense of visiting Richmond Friday evening.
Cadiz pitched well, benefited from timely hitting, and played flawless defense in a 11-1, six-inning triumph over Post 740.
"I've been saying we were tons better than what our record showed," Mazeroski smiled. "It was great to see the guys go out and play the way we're capable."
Mazeroski was further impressed in the manner his team handled Post 740. "Richmond is really solid all the way around," he added. "(This) shows we can go out and compete with the best."
Following a 6-4 come from behind road win at St. Clairsville the night before, Sam Davis' Richmond combine was unable to duplicate that feat.
Fact Box
Cadiz 11, Richmond 1
Richmond 000 100 - 1 7 5
Cadiz 113 321 - 11 8 0
RICHMOND (7-6): Woodward (LP, 0K, 1 BB), Hilt (4, 1K, 1 BB), Martin (5, 0K, 1 BB) and Orr; Yocom, 2 1B; Smyth, 2B, RBI; Orr. 2B.
CADIZ (4-8): Kernik (WP, 6K, 0BB) and Patrone; Badia, 1B, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI; Busby, 2 1B; Rose, 3B, 3 RBI; Mitchell, 1B, RBI; Patrone, SF, RBI.
"Give Cadiz all the credit," Davis insisted. "They're a quality team. They got big hits when they needed them and we didn't."
Post 34 also received a sharp complete-game mound outing from right-hander Josh Kernik who scattered seven hits and struck out a like number.
"Just a great job out there by Josh. His pitch count (75) was excellent," Mazeroski related. "We really needed Josh to come up big for us tonight."
Cadiz, which scored at least one run in each at-bat, took a 1-0 first inning lead when second baseman Spencer Badia doubled home Austin Marshall.
Post 34's Ryan Rose was on third base in the second when catcher Nick Patrone clouted a sac-fly to right field and it was 2-0.
The hosts sent seven batters to the plate an inning later. Badia, Kernik and Rasheen Mitchell were all aboard when Rose sent an opposite drive down the right field line for a bases-clearing triple.
Richmond received back-to-back doubles from Sammy Orr and Mark Smyth in the fourth. A Ty Yocom base hit had runners on the corner.
But Greg Stagani's ground ball to Rose at third turned into a double play when first baseman Nick Pelegreen relayed to Patrone at home to nail a sliding Smyth.
Cadiz tacked on three more tallies in the fifth. Badia's triple to deep center plated Patrone and D.J. Busby. Mitchell followed with a single to left center and it was 8-1.
Post 740 was guilty of three errors over the final two frames, leading to three additional Cadiz runs, ending the contest after six innings.
Badia singled, doubled and tripled, totaling three RBIs. Rose also accounted for three runs. Busby singled twice.
Yocom collected two singles for Richmond. Starter Clay Woodward worked into the fourth inning before Phil Hilt and Donavan Martin came on
Now 7-6, Post 740 has a scheduled Sunday doubleheader (12:00) at Tuscarawas County. Cadiz is slated to visit Wayne County the same day in a game which could be switched to Post 34's diamond.
