Behind the big bat of Brayden Young and solid pitching efforts from Aaron Lucas and Rylan Bailey, the Manchester “C” league boys baseball squad improved their season mark to 3-1 on Tuesday, June 9 with another run rule win, this time an 18-3 triumph over visiting Whiteoak 2.

Young went 3 for 3 and drove in a trio of runs while Lucas and Bailey combined on a one-hitter in a game that was halted after four innings because of the established run rule margins.

The game got off to a good start for the home standing Greyhounds as Lucas blanked Whiteoak in the top of the first and the Manchester offense struck quickly, picking up three runs in their half of that initial frame. That lead evaporated quickly as the visitors took advantage of some sloppy defensive work by the Hounds in the top of the second plus some control issues by Lucas to capitalize and score three runs of their own to tie the game.

That top of the second rally was the final high point of the night for Whiteoak as the game was all Hounds from that point on. The home team picked up two runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good and the exploded to score eight times in the bottom of the third to take a commanding 13-3 advantage.

When Bailey tossed his second scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, the Hounds came to bat needing five runs to enact the run rule and get the “W.” Five runs is exactly what the Hounds managed as they got just what they needed to take the required 15-run lead and head home with an 18-3 victory.

The Manchester offense totaled 10 hits in the win, led by Young’s three, which included a pair of two-base knocks and a three-base hit. Ryland Wikoff added two hits and he, Lucas, Logan Bell, Landen McDaniel, Karson Reaves, and Kaleb Colvin all crossed the plate twice. Wyatt Taylor chipped in with a pair of runs batted in.

On the mound, Lucas and Bailey each pitched two innings and though their control wasn’t sharp as they combined for 10 walks, they also tallied a combined seven strikeouts and only gave up one earned run between them.

WHITEOAK 030 0—3

MANCHESTER 328 5 —18

Whiteoak Hitting (AB-R-H-RBI): Moore 2-0-1-0, Mong 0-0-0-0, Farahay 1-0-0-0, Green 1-1-0-0, Butler 2-0-0-0, Hofer 1-1-0-0, R. Raines 2-0-0-0, J. Raines 0-1-0-0, N. Raines 0-0-0-1, Cline 2-0-0-0, C. Green 0-0-0-0, Team 11-3-1-1.

Manchester Hitting (AB-R-H-RBI): Wikoff 3-2-2-0, Lucas 1-2-0-1, Bell 1-2-0-0, Poole 3-0-0-0, Bailey 1-3-1-0, Young 3-2-3-3, McDaniel 3-2-1-1, Reaves 1-2-1-1, Colvin 0-2-0-0, Taylor 2-1-1-2, Whaley 2-0-1-0, Chamblin 0-0-0-0, Riffle 2-0-0-0, Team 22-18-10-8.

Manchester Pitching: Lucas (W) 2 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 2 K

Bailey 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K