Before setting up this week’s crucial area series with Stanhope Elmore, the Wetumpka baseball team needed to take care of business in its area opener against Selma. The Indians delivered with two shutouts on the mound and plenty of offense to support them as Wetumpka grabbed a two-game sweep against the Saints.
Wetumpka (20-11) opened the series with a home game Tuesday and sent Seth Johnson to the mound. After showing up late for the first pitch, Selma could not find any rhythm at the plate against the Wetumpka ace and it showed early on.
“We wanted a fast start,” Wetumpka coach Michael Dismukes said. “Any time you play an area game, you get to see where the nerves are. But we settled in and got off to a fast start.”
Johnson struck out two batters in the opening frame and gave himself some run support in the first inning. With two on and no outs, Johnson tripled to give Wetumpka a 2-0 lead, starting a rally for the Indians.
Wetumpka added three more runs before Johnson returned to the mound. Kyle Morrison had an RBI groundout while Noah Jones and Jackson Ray each scored on wild pitches after reaching on singles.
Morrison added another RBI in the bottom of the second to extend Wetumpka’s lead to 7-0. Johnson returned to the mound for one final inning, striking out seven batters in three innings pitched before exiting after just 40 pitches.
“We don’t play the opponent or the scoreboard; we play the baseball,” Dismukes said. “If we play the best, we’re going to have a chance to win. That’s how we keep our focus.”
Wetumpka finally finished off the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when an RBI single from Cody Amerson put the Indians ahead by 10 runs. Wetumpka had its bullpen finish the final three innings, including the first appearance of the season for Jaxon Shineflew who struck out two batters in a perfect frame during the sixth inning.
“I had a senior come up to me and say Jaxon Shineflew needs to pitch,” Dismukes said. “He’s the only one who hasn’t pitched in varsity yet but he’s been working with us every day. Seeing that character from that player and from our team, that was special.”
Wetumpka followed its 10-0 home win with a bigger offensive performance in Selma on Thursday night.
Mason Elmore had three hits and knocked in four runs while getting the win on the mound in a 17-0 victory. Johnson, Ray, Amerson and Trey Jones each scored three times in the win.
“The concentration level has to be high,” Dismukes said. “It’s hard to beat a team 10-0 and turn around and dominate them again. We had to have that laser focus and that confidence to go out there and win.”
