Golden Eagles top Blue Devils

Morning Journal/Matt Morrison
United pitcher Parker Newburn strikes out 12 during Friday’s win over Lisbon.

LISBON — United came prepared to play as it scored eight runs on nine hits in a 8-0 win over Eastern Ohio Conference opponent Lisbon on Friday.

“We knew we had to play good defense and we had to hit the ball,” United coach Tim Hydrick said. “We had to have Parker (Newburn) pitch like he did tonight.”

Newburn was prepared to face the young lineup of the Blue Devils as he had a solid performance on the mound allowing only three hits, one walk and striking out 12.

“Honestly, this is our first real league competition,” Newburn said. “I had to come in with a good mindset and do what I can to help the team out on the mound.”

United improves to 7-3 and 4-0 in the EOAC, while Lisbon drops to 4-5 and 1-2 in the EOAC.

At the plate, United was led by Quentin Taylor with three hits, including an RBI single to left field in the fourth inning to give the Golden Eagles a 6-0 advantage.

Wayden Kiko had two hits, two runs scored and one RBI, while Newburn had one hit, three RBIs and one run. Gage Smith and Cavan Jackson each had one hit and one run. Louden Stryffeler had one hit, while Andrew Ogilvie and Wyatt Swanson each scored one run.

The veteran squad of United that consists of four seniors and one junior will continue to produce.

“The future looks good,” Hydrick said. “We are pretty deep in pitching and that is the key.”

“We play real well together,” Newburn said. “”Obviously we lost a lot last year, but I think we have overcome a lot.”

Lisbon showed some area of growth at the plate making solid contact, but it still has a lot to learn.

“Even though we are young, I still expect us to compete everyday, so we are not going to use that excuse to get beat,” Lisbon coach Doug Andric said. “We had some nice hard hit balls, but just right at them and Newburn did a really great job pitching today. He is a really good pitcher.”

Gage Owens, Ryan Carpenter and Marc Moore all had a hit for the Blue Devils.

Newburn, a junior, had some encouraging comments about his young counterpart, Lisbon freshman Bryce Esarey.

“He is going to be really good when he is older,” Newburn said. “He has a little developing to do, but he throws really good.”

Esarey allowed four earned runs on seven hits and had six strikeouts through three and two-thirds of work on the mound for the Blue Devils before being relieved by freshman Logan Sturgeon. Sturgeon allowed two runs on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts through 3 1/3 innings of work.

United respects the young squad of Lisbon and thinks that it has a lot of room to grow.

“They (Lisbon) are going to be a good team,” Hydrick said. “They hit the ball and field the ball really well. They are going to beat some teams.”

Lisbon will play Leetonia at Eastwood Field at 3 p.m. Saturday. United will host Southern on Monday.

U: 0-2-1-3-0-1-1–8-9-4

L: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0–0-3-4