By Jim Newell

Review Editor

The Lake Orion varsity boys baseball team has started the season off with wins against tough area opponents, most recently dominating Utica Eisenhower in a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Dragons are now 4-1 on the season.

Lake Orion’s first game against the Eisenhower Eagles was a blowout, with the Dragons winning 10-2 in the seven-inning game.

The Dragons scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second, five runs in the fourth and another run in the sixth inning on their way to routing Ike. Utica managed single runs in the second and sixth innings.

Jack Wellman had three of the Dragons 11 hits, while Garrett Burchard and Joe Bruno had two hits. Casey Robertson had two RBIs.

Nick Nuss pitched five innings for the Dragons, giving up only one run while getting out in front of the batters with 12 first pitch strikes.

In the second game, the Dragons scored four runs in the first inning to take a commanding early lead and enough for the eventual 6-3 victory.

The Eagles managed to score one run in the third, fifth and sixth innings on three hits in the game, but Lake Orion scored one run in the third and another in the fourth inning to increase its lead.

Casey Robertson had two of the Dragons four hits in the game. Carson Devendorf had two RBIs, and Garret Burchard had three walks in the game. Burchard and Robertson also had four quality at bats (QAB).

Conor McCartan and Evan Rawlings each pitched three innings for the Dragons, with McCartan striking out three Eagles.

Lake Orion vs. St. Clair High School

The mercy rule went into effect after five innings when St. Clair Bulldogs dominated the Dragons in a 13-1 beatdown on April 15.

The Bulldogs had 11 hits to the Dragons four hits, but the first three innings of the game were scoreless. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the fourth inning and Lake Orion countered with a run.

But it was St. Clair’s 10-run fifth inning that doomed the Dragons.

Justin Valentine went the first four-and-third innings on the mound for the Dragons, notching five strikeouts.

Other highlights

Lake Orion defeated Romeo 9-6 on April 14 and shut out Grosse Pointe North 7-0 on April 12 in the season opener.