Owls Baseball Snaps Losing Streak

Casey Regruth, Sports Editor
April 20, 2021

From The Tribune

An 11-strikeout performance from junior Aden Burnside lifted Seymour’s baseball team to a 6-0 win over the Austin Eagles on Friday night at American Legion Field.

“My slider was working for me tonight,” Burnside said. “My plan was to lead with the slider and finish with my fastball. When guys got on base, I just focused on the batter and knew that my defense always has my back.”

Of the southpaw’s 11 strikeouts, seven came on called third strikes. The junior shutout the Eagles (4-7) through six innings, and just one runner advanced as far as third base. Friday’s win improved Burnside’s record to 3-0 on the season.

“(Aden)’s a strikeout pitcher when he tries not to be,” Seymour head coach Jeremy Richey said. “He’s not going to overpower people, but he’s going to pump strikes and keep you off balance. He had a lot of strikeouts looking tonight and that’s a credit to his movement. Every pitch he’s got goes in a different direction.”
The Owls capitalized on Burnside’s stellar pitching, putting together a two-out, three-run rally in the fifth inning to help them pull away.

After a single by Brayden Wilson, pinch-runner Jounes Rodriguez stole second base, moving into scoring position. Rodriguez then scored on a line drive single off the bat of leftfielder Vince Wilson.

Sophomores Treyton McCormick and Aiden Darlage each drove in a run to round out the scoring in the fifth.

Seymour’s offense was led by Vince Wilson, who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and crossed home plate twice.

“I was looking for a fastball. All of my hits tonight were off fastballs, and I was just looking to hit the ball hard,” Wilson said. “I try my best to do what I can when runners are on base.”

Wilson’s performance tonight is exactly what Richey is looking for from his sophomore cleanup hitter.

“If he buys into being Vince instead of being a clean-up hitter, if he stays within himself and does the things he can do, this kind of night can happen,” Richey said.

Darlage ended the game with two hits and two RBI. Sophomore Jack VonDielingen finished the game on the mound, striking out one while throwing a scoreless seventh inning. VonDielingen was aided by his defense, highlighted by a McCormick sliding catch in right field.

Friday’s win ended a three-game losing streak for the Owls, who bumped their record back above .500. Seymour is currently 4-3 on the season.

“I’m proud of the guys. They came out and put together a nice game. It ended the week a lot better than it started,” Richey said. “Next week is a big week. Three conference games, starting with Bedford on Monday.”

Seymour’s upcoming schedule has them playing five games in six days, including Hoosier Hills Conference rivals Bedford North Lawrence, Madison, and Jennings County.