Down three runs, Elma rallies to beat Black Hills

Elma overcame a shaky start to rally for an 8-4 victory over Black Hills on Wednesday in Elma.

The Eagles (3-1 overall) trailed 3-0 after the Wolves (0-3) scored a run in the first and two in the second off Eagles starting pitcher Carter Studer.

Elma scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by Ethan Camus to chase home Gibson Cain followed by an RBI single off the bat of TJ Dunlap.

After the Wolves scored a run on an RBI double by Tanner Parkinson in the top of the fourth, Elma responded when Camus singled with one out to drive home Cain, cutting the Black Hills lead to 4-3.

Elma tied the game when Grant Vessey singled to score Blake Corr with one out in the fifth.

The Eagles offense drew four walks and capitalized on two Wolves errors to take command of the game with a four-run sixth inning. Elma’s Jack Alexander drove in Kyren Hackney with a single to give Elma its first lead of the game at 5-4. Corr, Cain, Vessey and Brody Palmer each followed with a walk, the latter three forcing in runs for an 8-4 lead.

“It was nice to see the bases loaded several times and runners ready to go,” said Elma head coach Travis Vessey, who added the coaching staff was pleased to see the offense produce. “We got hitters on this team. … It was good to see them kind of wake up today. … We talk about approach (at the plate) all the time and we work on it. The guys kind of took it to heart today because we really didn’t chase a lot of bad pitches.”

The run support was more than enough for Camus, who entered for Studer in the fifth inning and was dominant, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts over six innings pitched in his first pitching appearance this season.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma relief pitcher Ethan Camus threw three scoreless innings in Elma’s 8-4 win over Black Hills on Wednesday in Elma.

“My first few warm-up pitches, it took me a few seconds to get my mechanics right because going from catching to pitching, it’s two different arm slots so it can mess you up a little bit,” said Camus, who started the game in his normal spot at catcher. “But after a few pitches, it got me dialed in and I was good.”

Studer allowed four earned runs on eight hits in a four-inning no decision.

Four Eagles had two hits in the game as Camus, Cain, Alexander and Vessey combined to go 8-for-13 to lead the Elma offense.

As a team, the Eagles drew six walks in the game.

A large crowd was on hand as the Eagles hosted area Little Leaguers for both pre and post-game festivities.

Camus said playing in front of such a large crowd helped the team to the victory.

“Since the start of the game when we brought out the Little Leaguers, it just made us feel good and brought the morale up a little bit,” he said. “That’s always good.”

Elma plays at King’s Way Christian at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Black Hills 120 100 0 – 4 9 2

Elma 020 114 0 – 8 11 1

WP: Camus (3 IP, 0 R, H, 4 K). LP: Gidder (0.1 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 H, K, 2 BB).

Leading hitters: Black Hills – Bond (2-3, 2B, R, RBI); Parkinson (2-4, 2B, RBI); Sheples (2-3); Termini (1-3, 2B, RBI); Otto (1-3, R); Lynch (1-2, R). Elma – Camus (2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI); Cain (2-2, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB); Alexander (2-4, R, RBI); Vessey (2-3, 2 R); Dunlap (1-4, RBI); Hackney (1-1, R).