Short and sweet would be putting it lightly. It took all of 75 minutes for Fork Union’s Jacob Grabeel to put together his fifth complete game of the year together. Behind his 2-hit effort on the mound and a quick start in the first inning offensively, the Blue Devils dispatched visiting Christchurch 3-0.
“It was a good ball game and we played better defense these last two weeks, so that’s always good to see,” said Fork Union coach Rodney Carter. “(Jacob) pitched really well, threw a lot of strikes and got ahead of batters and then we played behind him. He throws all three pitches he has for strikes and was on today.”
Grabeel gave up just two singles and no walks on a day that misted from start to finish. Between the first and fifth innings he retired 12 straight batters. The junior earned a complete game shutout and finished with eight strikeouts and only one Seahorse reached scoring position.
“I just pitched to contact, I wasn’t looking for strikeouts,” Grabeel said. “I trust my defense and they picked up some big outs. I tried to throw strikes and get ahead and it just worked out.”
It was Grabeel’s second complete game shutout of the season and one that gave Fork Union it’s fourth win in five games. The Blue Devils looked to be a in a bit of trouble just three weeks ago, but by improving to 13-11 and 5-3 in the Prep League, now sit looking to make a push for a VISAA Division 1 playoff spot.
“We just have to keep playing game by game,” Grabeel said. “If we keep getting ahead early (in the game) it gives you that extra motive.”
And that’s exactly what happened offensively for FUMA. In the bottom of the first, Tyler Simon led off with a walk. After a ground out and an error in the next two at-bats it was 1-0. Then an RBI single from Zach Pace made it 2-0.
“We had a good start but didn’t get a lot after that,” Carter said. “We hit a lot of stuff at them.”
In the fourth and fifth inning, the Blue Devils squared up six straight well struck balls to the outfield, but all fell within reach, five of them heading to centerfielder Dorian Kemp who’s range was certainly on display. In the top of the sixth, the Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead with Adam Hackenberg finding the gap on a double. In the next at-bat, Pace brought him home on an RBI single to wrap up the scoring.
FUMA hosts Liberty Christian on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
