Cold doesn't stop Indians

Baseball fans were bundled up in heavy coats and blankets over the past two games in Comanche as they braved un-baseball like weather.

The Indians would get a split in those two games, losing 9-5 to Marlow on Saturday and then turning around to pick up a 10-0 shutout of Fletcher on Monday.

Monday’s game against Fletcher was a little different for Comanche coach Jarod King who coached at Fletcher before coming to Comanche last season.

“Oh yeah, that was weird because all the junior high kids I remember coaching when they were little kids,” King said.

Brady Dobbins and Colby Shannon combined on a two-hit shutout cut short by the run rule in the bottom of the fourth inning when Shannon belted a three-run homer to end the game.

“I thought we played well today,” King said. “I thought we threw strikes better than what we have been. We’ve had a tendency this year to miss the strike zone more times than we hit it. I think we’re averaging giving up six walks a game and today we had one, so that was a big difference but that’s something we’re trying to get fixed.”

King said giving up walks played a big part in the loss to Marlow.

“We gave up 10 walks against Marlow and that’s what got us,” King said. “Against a good team, you can’t do stuff like that.”

The win against Fletcher improved the Indians to 10-3 on the season as they begin a tournament today (Thursday) at Chickasha. King’s been pleased overall with the way his team has been playing.

“I think defensively, we’re playing really well and we’re swinging the bats well,” King said. “We’ve got a lot of guys out of position because we had some guys not playing this year that normally do. They’re doing really well adapting to a new position, but I just don’t think we are very deep right now with guys not playing, but we’re doing really well with the obstacles that were being put in front of us. Our pitching needs to be a little better but I’m happy where we’re at.”

Comanche has only played two district games so far and are 2-0 with a pair of wins over Marietta. They were the only district team to not have a district game this week. King likes his team’s chances of coming out on top.

“Washington is in our district, but it should be between us, Washington and Lindsay to have the best chance at it,” King said. “So, hopefully, we’re going to start pitching a little better.”

Saturday

Marlow 9

Comanche 5

Comanche took a 2-1 lead in the first inning, but the Outlaws scored four runs in the top of the third to take the lead for good. They would then add three more in the fourth inning to extend their lead.

Comanche was never able to answer back. Marlow led 8-2 after scoring a run in the fifth inning. The Indians would get one run back in the fifth inning before Gabe Diaz hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth for the final runs of the game.

Colby Shannon also had two runs batted in and Brady Dobbins also had an RBI. Besides Diaz, Shannon and Dobbins, Ian Essex, Gunner King, Landon Steele and Evan Dodd all had a hit.

Diaz took the loss on the mound, giving up four hits and four earned runs in 2 and 2/3 innings of work. He struck out four and walked six.

Monday

Comanche 10

Fletcher 0

Comanche scored three runs in the first and four runs in the second inning, including a three-run home run by Gabe Diaz.

After a scoreless third inning, Shannon put the game away with his walk-off home run.

Ian Essex and Gunner King also had an RBI in the game.

Payton Jones also had a hit in the game.