HAMPTON, VA. – On a cold and drizzly Sunday afternoon, the Apprentice School bats woke up and smashed their way to an 11-2 win over St. Vincent College to conclude a six-game week at War Memorial Stadium.
The Builders started scoring early as they put three runs across in the first as Trevin Wilson walked and went to second on a fielders choice by Brock Harris. Chris Aldridge singled to load the bases before Devorn Lake hit a fly ball to right field which scored Wilson. Aldridge stole second and went to third on a throwing error which scored Harris for a 2-0 lead. Mark Labrador flew out to left field to score Aldridge for the early 3-0 lead.
In the second the Builders put two more on as Cody Seals was hit by a pitch to start and went to second as Chris Scarola singled to right field. Following a sacrifice to move the runners to second and third, a passed ball plated Seals. Wilson grounded out to score Scarola for a 5-0 advantage.
Apprentice School starting pitcher Chad Gurganus went into the fifth inning before being lifted for David Sebera. Gurganus struck out eight and walked three while allowing two hits in the first four plus innings. In the fifth, the Bearcats took advantage of the walks by Apprentice School pitchers as they plated two runs to bring then to within 5-2.
The Builders responded with a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Seals to go up 6-2. In the eighth, they erupted for five runs on five hits as Lake drove in a run with a single, while Seals doubled in two more runs to go up 11-2.
Wilson, Aldridge, Lake, Labrador and Seals all had two hits each for the Builders as Seals drove in three runs on the game and Lake had a pair of RBI. Sebera earned the win throwing four innings of relief with three strikeouts and three hits allowed. Sam Massie closed the game by throwing a clean ninth inning.
Apprentice School (16-3) will now play a doubleheader on Tuesday against U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association member Virginia University of Lynchburg starting at 1 pm at War Memorial Stadium.