The Kokomo Post Sports - Game of the Week: Delta vs Western (Photo Gallery)
Delta capitalized on early mistakes and leaned on a complete-game gem from Zane Cline to defeat Western 5-2 in the Class 3A Regional Championship on Saturday at Jim Turner Field.
The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Zane Cline scored the opening run on an error, and Ryan Neal scored the second after reaching base on a bunt that also resulted in a Western error.
Cline retired the Panthers in order in the bottom of the first and went on to pitch a complete game. He struck out eight, walked two and allowed just three hits and two runs over seven innings.
Delta added to its lead in the second. Gavin Case scored on an RBI single from Maddox Human, and Chase Flannery came home on a groundout by Neal to make it 4-0.
Western starter Ashton Castillo struggled to find his rhythm. He was pulled after recording four outs, giving up four hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Left-hander Jaiden McNulty entered in relief and held Delta to one run on one hit over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.
The final run for Delta came in the fifth. Cline led off with a double and was replaced by courtesy runner Evan Conner, who scored on a bunt by Neal that led to another Western error — Neal’s second bunt of the game to result in a miscue and run.
Western’s only offense came in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan Rodman hit a two-run home run to left, scoring Cal Berryman and cutting Delta’s lead to 5-2. The home run gave the Panthers a spark, but Cline shut the door the rest of the way.
Delta advances to the Class 3A North Semistate on June 14. Western finishes the season 26-5, its fifth consecutive 20-win campaign.
