Scouts lose 11th straight

By Luke Severt, Xenia Scouts beat writer

 July 25, 2018

XENIA- At times, it seems like the story is the same, over and over.

Another Scouts loss. Some positives, some negatives, but the team just fell short. This seems to be the case almost every day, and it was on Tuesday night, when the Scouts fell to the Hamilton Joes, 6-4.

Jason Lester knows this season has been a tough one. Since starting the season 6-4, including a five-game win streak, the Scouts have won 3 games out of 27. With five games remaining, playoffs are out of the question.

In a season that many would consider dreadful, Lester believes that losing may not be such a bad thing for the players to have to deal with.

“I’ll tell you this, adversity builds character,” said Lester. “I’m hoping that’s one of the byproducts of not being on the winning end. Adversity is allowing us to get better.”

Reliever Owen Pyatt strongly agrees with Lester, and it has shown on the field. Pyatt’s first three outings in a Scouts uniform were nothing short of brutal. In a combined 3 1/3 innings, he surrendered 14 earned runs and walked nine batters.

Since then, however, Lester has noticed Pyatt improving every time he has taken the mound.

He reached the pinnacle of his season so far on Tuesday, pitching the eighth and ninth innings without allowing a baserunner, while striking out four.

“Most of the change has just been mental,” said Pyatt. “My body’s been feeling really good, which has been a blessing. I’ve been watching (Washington Nationals pitcher) Max Scherzer, and his mentality on the mound. When it’s 0-2 he’s going right at guys, which is something I’ve tried to carry over.”

After a doubleheader on Sunday where the Scouts were only able to score one run, the offense was finally able to contribute for Xenia. They scored four runs and tallied 10 hits, including three from shortstop Nick Tuttle, who leads the team in batting. Left fielder Chandler Chambers exploded for two hits and two runs batted in, and designated hitter Ryan Bertelsman had a double and a single.

Ryan Moeller started on the mound for the Scouts and took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings. However, he had control of his pitches, something he has struggled with this season, and only gave up one walk.

Landen Myers relieved him and pitched very well, allowing only one run in 4 1/3 innings.

“Our pitchers battled,” said Lester. “All three of them came in and threw strikes.”

The Scouts play the Joes again on Wednesday, before ending the season with two-game series against the first-place Cincinnati Steam and the Richmond Jazz. The Joes are battling for a spot in the playoffs, and are currently half a game behind the Galion Graders in the GLSCL Southern Division standings. Meanwhile, the Steam have a one game lead for first, and the Scouts have an opportunity to dethrone them.

“We want to rain on their parade,” said Lester.