No team is hotter right now than the Perry Bluejays as they look for their 10th straight win tonight when they travel to Winterset for their first meeting of the year with the Huskies.  Perry will once again be tested this week with every single game on the road.  The Bluejays will travel to Carroll Wednesday (KDLS) and Boone Thursday (KDLS) before heading to the West Central Valley Tournament on Saturday.  Below are complete box scores and game notes from the weekend.

Perry 5 – Earlham 2

Perry 5 runs-6 hits-No Errors-2 runners LOB

Earlham 2 runs-3 hits-No Errors-5 runners LOB

Perry moved its win streak to 8 in a row with the win against Earlham in the 1^st game of the Perry Invitational Baseball Tournament.

The Bluejays scored 1 run in the 1^st inning—Will Whiton was hit by a pitch, stole 2^nd and 3^rd, then stole home on a pickle play executed perfectly by Kade Van Kirk who was running for the catcher Zach Roberts who had singled.

Perry would add a run in the 3^rd after Whiton doubled with 2 outs and again the Bluejays executed the a perfect pickle play with Michael Lansing the runner on 1^st base this time after a walk.  Whiton was able to score before Lansing was tagged out giving Perry a 2-0 lead.

Earlham tied it up in the top of the 4^th with the help of 3 walks and 2 singles off starting pitcher Michael Pentico.  Alex Long relieved with the bases loaded and 1 out and got out of the jam by getting a pop up to third baseman Blake Lansing who then tagged the runner out at third base to end the inning.

Perry came right back to take the lead with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning all with two outs.  Back to back singles by Blake Lansing and Cavan Finn got the rally started. Alex Long walked, but ball 4 was a wild pitch that allowed Lansing to score.  Ben Daniels then followed with a 2 run double to left field to give Perry a 5-2 lead.

Perry ended the game on a nifty double play by 2^nd baseman Nic Wilhelmi.  After the first 2 batters of the inning reached by getting hit and struck out respectively, the next batter hit a hard grounder to Wilhelmi who tagged the runner from 1^st base then fired to 1^st to complete the double play and end the game.

Long went the final 3 2/3 innings to get his first varsity win.  He walked 1, struck out 1 and did not allow hit.

Offensive leaders were Whiton with  5 stolen bases and Daniels with 2 RBIs for the Bluejays.

Perry 5 – Harlan 4

Perry 5 runs-8 hits-1 error – 7 runners LOB

Harlan 4 runs-8 hits-2 erros-6 runners LOB

Perry capped off a perfect week with its 9 win in a row defeating 10^th ranked Harlan 5-4 to be crowned winners of the Perry Invitational with a perfect 2-0 record.

The Bluejays scored threatened in the bottom of the 1^st getting the bases loaded with 2 outs but could not push across a run. The Jays did get on the board first with a run in the bottom of the third after Whiton singled, stole second then continued on to 3^rd on a bad throw by the Harlan catcher.  Michael Lansing then dropped down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to score Whiton to make it 1-0 Bluejays.

Harlan got on the board in the top of the 4^th with 3 singles in the inning , then took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 5^th on a solo HR off the scoreboard in left center field by freshman Nick Tarney.

Perry grabbed the lead for good with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5^th.  Whiton hit a one-out triple to dead center then scored on Michael Lansing’s sac fly to left.  Wilhelmi then singled to right, stole 2^nd, and scored on Blake Lansing’s single to right center.  Cavan Finn followed with a RBI single to left giving Perry a 4-2 lead.

Harlan added a run in the 6^th on a RBI ground out, but Perry answered with a run.  Jeremiah Ellett laid down a perfect drag bunt and made it to second when the throw got away down the right field line.  Then with 2 outs, Michael Lansing delivered a clutch base hit to left field scoring Ellett to make it 5-3 going into the 7^th inning.

Harlan made it interesting, getting 2 singles and a hit batter to load the bases.  A Perry error let a run a score and with two outs and the bases loaded, Whiton came in to get the last out, a harmless fly ball to right field to end the game.

Finn got the start and was very sharp for his 5 plus innings of work.  He went 5 and 1/3 innings, allowing 3 runs, all earned, 6 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3.  Ellett relieved Finn with one out in the 6^th and got out of jam when catcher Zach Roberts picked off a Cyclone runner at 3^rd base with 2 outs.  Whiton got the last out for his 4 save of the season in as many chances.

Getting hits for Perry-

Ellett, Whiton (2), Michael Lansing (2, with 3 RBIs), Wilhelmi, Blake Lansing,  and Finn.

Finn is now 4-2 on the season.  Perry’s win over Harlan was their 9 straight and gives them a 15-3 record heading into another busy week, with all games on the road.  They will be in Winterset on Monday, Carroll on Wednesday, Boone on Thursday and will play in the West Central Valley Tournament on Saturday.

Other scores from the Perry Invitational—

ADM beat Earlham 8-7 in 8 innings

Harlan beat ADM 8-3.