Warren East completes two-game sweep/Carver, Raiders knock off South Warren 8-5

SOUTH’S KOBE MARTIN HOMERS TWICE IN DEFEAT

Warren East High School’s talented baseball team completed a critical two-game sweep of visiting South Warren, but the Raiders immediately went to work after the handshake line.

Warren East coach Wes Sanford wanted to get the tarp on the field as soon as possible, with a game on the horizon against Franklin-Simpson on Thursday evening.

The Raiders left nothing to chance in Wednesday’s 8-5 victory over South Warren, the Spartans’ fourth loss in their last five games. Sanford used three pitchers to keep the Raiders on track against the aggressive Spartans.

“We really played poorly over the weekend, in our tournament up in Louisville,” Sanford said. “This series, we’ve had some really good at bats. We did a good job of making adjustments at the plate. Our pitchers competed very well.

“We’re hoping this is something we can build on.”

Chris Gage, the Spartans’ veteran head coach, missed the game because of a family emergency. Wes King filled in for Gage and made a point to give Warren East the credit.

“We’ve had good energy, 15 hits in these last two games,” King said. “But we made some mistakes, defensively, and they kind of snowballed on us. Warren East is a solid team. They did a good job of swinging the bat.

“It’s a tough game. A mental game.”

Warren East improved to 12-6 with the victory, and the Raiders trail only Bowling Green (13-4) and Russell County (11-3) in the Ratings Percentage Index for the KHSAA’s 4th Region.

South Warren (7-9) will travel to play Barren County (6-12) on Thursday evening.

Warren East’s starting pitcher, Chase Carver, turned in five strong innings before yielding to teammate Colton Edwards. Edwards was the winning pitcher, thanks to East breaking a 5-5 tie with a single run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sanford then turned to reliever Drake Young, who retired the Spartans in order to end the game.

“This team has the potential to make a run at the state tournament,” Edwards said. “Our team chemistry is really good. Getting the sweep is a great way to start district play.”

South Warren wasted a big game from leadoff man Kobe Martin, the Spartans’ senior center fielder. Martin greeted Carver with a towering home run to right field in the first, and he got the Spartans back in the game by unloading another Carver pitch, this time to right-center field, for a two-run homer in the fifth.

The Raiders have a splendid leadoff man themselves, with sophomore Tray Price handling that role in addition to center field.

Price, who also shines in football and basketball, started a sixth-inning double play by catching a soft line drive to center field before doubling off the Spartans’ Ethan Reynolds at first base. Price also went 3-for-4 at the plate, delivering an RBI double to right field for a critical insurance run in the sixth.

“I just wanted to do my job, get on base, make the plays on defense,” Price said. “I think this team has a chance to do something special. We’ve just got to keep working.”

Wyatt Nesbitt, Warren East’s junior catcher, delivered a two-run single to give the Raiders their first lead, at 3-1, in the bottom of the fourth. Nesbitt would later score on an errant pickoff attempt, one of four South Warren errors on the night.

“We had runners at second and third,” Nesbitt said, “and I was thinking, ‘First-pitch fastball.’ (South’s Eli Capps) came inside with the pitch, but I was able to get the bat on it and make good contact.

“We’re starting to build a little momentum. We’re ready to win.”

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