GRIFFITH, Ind. – The Griffith Generals finally gathered a home win in their 12th game of the year, as they were on the right side of an offensively dominated game in a 17-10 win over the Vikings. The 17 runs were season-high for the Generals, and the win puts them at a .500 mark in their last six games.
Seven Generals starters logged an RBI on the night, and eight etched a hit in the box score. Dylan Mayer had the hit of the night with a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning, the second Griffith long ball of the year.
Even with 27 runs being scored in the game, the story of the night was the relief effort put forth by Generals two-way star Lucas Winburn. He logged an 11-out save and struck out nine Vikings without allowing a baserunner. He blew hitters away with his high fastball and fast-dipping curveball.
“He came in and shut it down tonight,” said coach Peter Romsek after Winburn’s outing. “He’ll have a big role moving forward.” Before his first pitching appearance of the year, Winburn was 2-8 on the season with a double in his time at first base.
“Everything felt great,” remarked Winburn on his impressive day. “I just wanna come out here and throw strikes, shut things down, move innings quick.”
Romsek used the same “night and day” comparison when he described the Generals’ effort after a blowout loss. The day after a 16-0 loss against the Corn Dogs, Griffith turned around the next day and gave the reigning champs a run for their money, losing narrowly 9-7. The same pattern followed tonight after an 18-0 embarrassment to the Oilmen the night before. “Credit to the guys for being able to wash yesterday and move on to today. We got the touchdown and the extra point to win it.”
When asked how the Generals would try and carry the offensive explosion over to tomorrow night against the Miracle, Romsek emphasized overall consistency. “We haven’t consistently put together a string of good baseball. Finding that consistency overall is the key for us.”
The Generals start a back-to-back slate against the Elkhart County Miracle tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. and look to win consecutive ball games for the first time this season.