Wilkins leads Vina rout of Decatur Heritage

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
Paul Wilkins went 3-for-4 with three doubles and five RBIs on Saturday as Vina pounded Decatur Heritage 19-7.
Max Weeks (1-0) was the winning pitcher, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in a complete game. He struck out five and walked three.
The Red Devils led 12-7 before blowing the game open with seven runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Luke Childers finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Randy Barnes added a two-run double. Anthony Hester, Blake Thorn and Kyle Green each scored three runs. Weeks, Corey Scott and Rodney Barnes each had one hit.
The Red Devils dropped their Class 1A, Area 13 opener on Monday at Hackleburg, falling 15-0 to the Panthers.
"We got no-hit, but we only struck out one time," Vina coach Greg Hamilton said. "We hit it to them all day, and they made the plays defensively. If we got no-hit and struck out 15 times, I'd probably be a little more upset. But if they're going to make every single play, you just have to tip your hat and go on to the next one."
Green and Wilkins both pitched for Vina (3-1, 0-1) against Hackleburg.
"We've just now gotten through our pitching rotation one time," Hamilton said. "I've been very pleased with our pitchers so far. They're throwing strikes, for the most part. Kyle and Paul probably walked a few more than they would like to [on Monday]. Corey, Rodney and Max were all around the plate a lot in the games they pitched.
"Even against Hackleburg, they [clocked] Kyle at 79 [miles per hour] in the first inning. And they didn't score off him in the first inning. That's something positive."
The Red Devils are scheduled to travel to Waterloo today for a game beginning at 4:30 p.m.