Hayden Pope started and went five innings on the mound for Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Triton put in a strong offensive performance Monday to open varsity baseball season with a 10-6 win over visiting Cleveland.

“We had a lot of guys come out and really stick to the approach we’ve been talking about and hit the ball strong,” said Triton coach Jacob Willis. “That’s what we had been focusing on over the offseason is just trying to hit the ball hard.”

Senior Hayden Pope pitched five innings to pick up the win for the Hawks (1-0), giving up three earned runs on four hits and three walks, with six strikeouts. Sophomore Tucker Brown pitched two-thirds of an inning, yielding no earned runs on no hits and three walks, with one strikeout. Junior Xander Johnson pitched one-and-one-third innings, giving up no runs on no hits and one walk, with one strikeout.

“I’m hoping for a big year out of (Pope),” Willis said. “He’s been throwing the ball well.”

Of the 11 batters Triton sent to the plate, 10 reached base safely at least once and seven recorded at least one base hit.

“It’s always a good time when you can try to get everybody in the ball game and see a little bit out of everybody,” Willis said. “Especially this early.”

Junior Anthony Jones had three hits and two RBIs, junior Ross Stevens had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs and Brown had two hits and two runs scored to lead Triton at the plate.

Braxton Davis had two hits, including a double. Jalen Evans had a triple, two RBIs and one run scored. Wyatt Avery had one hit and one RBI. Harvey Schneider had one hit. Johnson, Riley Colville and Kenneth McKoy scored two runs apiece. Pope scored once.

Senior Skyler Locklear had two hits, two RBIs and one run scored to lead the Rams (0-1).

Zach Blailock had one hit and two runs scored. Elijah Pittman had a double and one RBI. Conner Roberts and Dylan Haswell had one RBI apiece. Zavion Ingram, Casey Ryan and Daniel Papworth scored one run apiece.

Cleveland scored one run apiece in the first and third innings and four in the sixth. Triton scored one run in the first inning, four in the second, one in the fourth and four in the fifth.

Triton travels to Midway on Friday.

“Just keep working,” Willis said. “Keep working on our approaches at the plate. Keep working on hitting the ball hard and fine tuning some defensive stuff that we saw we needed to get a little bit better at tonight. And working on closing out ball games.”

Kenneth McKoy slides into third on a passed ball for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Triton second baseman Tucker Brown tosses the ball to Braxton Davis.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Braxton Davis connects for a double for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Anthony Jones drives in a run for Triton in a 10-6 win on Monday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Triton shortstop Jalen Evans throws to first for an out.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)