NORTH ROBINSON — The Colonel Crawford Eagles are getting on track after a 2-6 start to the season.

Crawford (6-7, 3-4 N10) has won four of its last five games after the Eagles used an 11-run fourth inning to drop Bucyrus, 14-0, in a five-inning Northern 10 Athletic Conference game.

The Redmen, who entered the season with no seniors and just three juniors on the roster, fell to 0-8 on the season, 0-10 overall.

Bucyrus coach Thad Hensel said that his young team is learning despite suffering growing pains.

“We’re learning just a lot of fundamental things,” Hensel said. “Not compounding mistakes, fielding the ball and making a clean throw, or, if you do bobble it, don’t follow it up with another mistake.

“We’re still learning just how to be in the box and swing,” he added. “I have some guys that haven’t played baseball before. Having the confidence in the box. I think a lot of it is they get a little tentative in the box; first time in a varsity game.”

Crawford coach Jordan Oliver said that his team is finally getting its feet on the proverbial ground.

“We’re just trying to preach to our guys each and every day, regardless of whether things go good or bad, they have to have the same mindset in every game,” Oliver said.

“Baseball is a challenging game,” he added. “You’re going to have games where we make errors, and we strike out. Regardless of what’s going on, we have to have the same approach and support one another. We’re starting to see that from our young team.”

Crawford never trailed in the game, scoring single runs off Bucyrus starter Micah Burke in each of the first three innings.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first when Parker Weithman walked and scored on a double to left center from Deagan Moore. Moore doubled three times on his way to a four-hit game.

The Eagles increased the lead to 2-0 in the second when Grady Riggle singled, moved to third on a Bucyrus error and scored on a Tyce Lisle ground out.

It was 3-0 in the third on a Moore double and a bunt single by Joe Zizzo before Moore scored on a wild pitch.

Burke, just a freshman, threw the ball well for three innings before finally running out of gas in the fourth.

Crawford used seven walks in the inning, along with doubles from Moore and Weithman, and singles from Nate McCartney and Riggle, to score 11 times and seal the win.

“We’re starting to hit,” Oliver said of his team. “The last two weeks we’re kinda starting to hit the ball throughout the lineup. I do believe that we have a pretty dangerous lineup when we’re all seeing the ball well. We’re fast; we run the bases well. So, we’re just really pleased with our effort tonight.”

Crawford’s Lisle fired a gem. The junior permitted just three hits and did not walk a batter in the performance.

Aiden Jones doubled for the Redmen, and Paten Deskins and Quin Ross each singled.

“Tyce has like a 70 percent strike rate and that’s something we’re trying to emphasize to our other pitchers,” Oliver said. “We don’t always have to overpower hitters or throw incredible pitches. We have to keep the ball down and let our defense work. We have a pretty good defense behind our pitcher. Just keep them active and throw strikes.”

Hensel said that his team is still getting used to playing baseball.

“These guys are still learning to play varsity baseball. That’s stressful for them,” he said.

Box score

Bucyrus                     000 00X X             0      3      6

Colonel Crawford   111 (11)XX X     14      8      1

WP: Tyce Lisle (5 SO, 0 W)

LP: Micah Burke (0 SO, 7 W)

HR: None

Triples: None.

Doubles: (B) Aiden Jones; (CC) Deagan Moore 3.

Multiple hits: (CC) Deagan Moore 4.

Records: Bucyrus 0-10, 0-8 N10; Colonel Crawford 6-7, 3-4 N10.

Next: Bucyrus at Mansfield Senior, Friday; Colonel Crawford at Lucas, Thursday.