South Range's string reaches eight

The Raiders are 7-0 in the Inter-County League after a win over Jackson-Milton.
By GEORGE WELKER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH JACKSON -- Not even a stiff wind in their faces could blow the South Range High Raiders off track.
Capitalizing on a three-run fourth inning, with insurance in the seventh, South Range claimed its eighth straight baseball victory Monday, a 5-2 decision over Inter-County League rival Jackson-Milton.
South Range improved to 9-2 overall, including 7-0 in the ICL, good for first place.
"Our team has been ripping the ball. We've had a lot of hits and a lot of runs scored, and we haven't made many errors," said Raiders' pitcher Jeff Johnston (3-1).
With a strong wind blowing in from left-center field that often kicked up clouds of dust, neither team had much opportunity for slugging.
Key hit: Then came the key hit the Raiders have been getting all season.
On a full-count delivery from Jackson-Milton starter Jim Ferrante, Brad Johnson doubled down the left field line to start the fourth inning.
"That's why he's my No. 4 hitter," Raiders coach Dan Szolek said of Johnson. "He rarely strikes out. He puts the ball in play. On a day like today, that's what we needed people to do."
Johnson moved to third on a ground-out by Johnston and later scored for a 1-1 tie. Jason King singled and Greg Rohan, Hogie Walley and Jimmy Sanders all walked to put South Range ahead 3-1.
The damage was done against Ferrante, in a new role because of an injury. Normally the Bluejays' starting catcher or closing pitcher, Ferrante was on the mound because of a broken glove hand.
Hand struck: The injury occurred during a scrimmage over spring break, Jackson-Milton coach Jake Corbett said. Reaching out to catch an incoming pitch, Ferrante's hand was struck when the batter took a swing.
"It just broke," Corbett said. "The injury bug has really bitten us this year."
Timely hitting is what has allowed the Raiders to succeed.
"Tonight, we didn't swing the bats real good, but we got the timely hit," Szolek said. "When we needed the base hit we got it. And a couple of walks here and there, and just putting the ball in play. As long as we're not striking out, I'm happy."
Johnson went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double and two runs scored. His hits came while behind in the count, but that's when he's most comfortable, he said.
"I think I hit better when I'm 0-2 in the count," Johnson said. "I just feel I have to choke up and hit anything close."
Johnston, meanwhile, kept ahead of the Bluejays most of the afternoon.
"I just tried to not aim, and throw hard. Luckily, I threw a lot of strikes," he said.
Simple approach: Johnston said he struggled with some control issues earlier this season, but since then has turned to a more simplified approach. Some pitches have been eliminated, allowing him to stick with what works best -- his fastball.
"My curve was a little rough. It was working sometimes, and sometimes it wasn't," Johnston said. "So, I threw fastballs, and they couldn't catch up to it."
After giving up three hits over the first three innings, Johnston retired 10 of the next 13 batters. He struck out nine, including the side in the seventh, despite allowing two hits and a run.
"Jeff threw the ball great. I talked to him in school today and told him I needed a good game out of him tonight, and I got one," Szolek said.
South Range's insurance runs in the seventh came when Tom Kimmel singled and moved to third on a single by Johnson. Johnson stole second, then both scored on a single by Johnston.
Jackson-Milton took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Al Stevens singled, stole second, moved to third on an error and scored on a ground-out by Bill Corbett.