Staff report
The Edison State Community College baseball team headed to Florida this past week for their spring trip to Cocoa Beach, and started off winning three of their first four games.
They split Monday’s doubleheader against Kishwaukee Junior College, losing the opener 8-3 before winning the nightcap 10-0.
Tanner Lee of Northmont took the loss in relief in game one, while Jorge Dario throew a complete game shutout to win the nightcap.
Jarrob Negron was the hitting star of the day for the Chargers. He went 2-for-4 in both games, including a long homer, and drove in four. Dustin Parsons from Cincinnati added four hits and three runs batted in on the day, and Jose Adorno hit his first homer of the season.
Kishwaukee, from just outside Chicago, came into the game as the No. 5-ranked preseason team in the Division I national junior college rankings.
On Tuesday, Edison State swept the Canadian team from Quebec State 11-10 and 10-0. Sidney’s Jackson Hobbs was the game one starter, earning a tough luck no decision leaving after 5 1/3 with the lead. Hobbs gave up four earned runs, while surrendering six hits and striking out three. Northmont’s Garrett Lee got the win in relief. Negron was again the hitting star, going 2-for-4 while driving in the game-winner in the seventh.
In game two Marcus Johnson from Detroit pitched a gem. He went the distance, allowing only one hit while striking out six. Fairborn’s Matt Peterangelo had two hits and drove in two, while Drake Carmen from Lebanon doubled in a run in the four-run Charger first.
Edison split their Wednesday doubleheader played at historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.
Northmont alum Zach Kirby pitched two innings in relief to earn the victory.
Edison played the Canadian Elite 18U squad and came away with a hard-fought 15-11 victory.
Negron and Miguel Velasquez from Puerto Rico were the hitting stars for the Chargers. Each had three hits while driving in three runs. Carmen had two hits and three RBIs off the Edison bench.
In the nightcap, a costly dropped fly ball cost the Chargers eight unearned runs in a nine-run first inning for The University of Connecticut at Avery Point. Waynesville product Elijah Bennett took the loss for Edison, surrendering only one earned run in a 15-0 affair.
Then on the final day of the trip, Thursday, Edison split an exhibition doubleheader with the Florida Coast Black Sox semi-pro team. The Black Sox are a group age 22-27 that are still hopeful of receiving minor league contracts during their season.
The Chargers won game one 5-4. Waynesville grad Elijah Bennett picked up the win with three solid innings of relief work on the hill. Vandalia Butler alum Alex Murphy had two hits and two RBIs to lead the hitting core.
In the afternoon affair a beleaguered Edison pitching staff got a shot in the arm from regular first baseman Jarrob Negron, who threw three plus innings. The Florida semi-pro team came away with a victory 10-8.
Negron and Miguel Velasquez, both of Puerto Rico, each had two hits and two RBIs, while Murphy contributed three more hits and three RBIs.
Edison State finished their trip with a 5-3 mark. They return to action Tuesday at home against Ohio University Chillicothe with 2:30 and 4:30 doubleheader games.
The Chargers play their home games at the school’s one-year old stadium behind the campus on Looney Road in Piqua.
