Sophomore Eli Koskela is a bigger and stronger version of the freshman catcher of a year ago and it showed on Tuesday when he no-hit Claxton in a 15-0 Bryan County win called after three innings due to the mercy rule.
The Redskins upped their record to 8-6, 5-2 in Region 3A-DII play, as they picked up their fourth win in their last six games to stay alive in a region race that is just beginning to warm up. The two teams will meet again Friday at 6 p.m. at Claxton.
Koskela started every game last year behind the plate and proved himself to be a physically tough player with a promising future.
Thanks to a growth spurt in which he said he has grown about three inches and put on 20 to 30 pounds as part of football coach Cherard Freeman’s weight program—he is a running back-- the future is arriving quickly for Koskela who is emerging as one of first year coach Kyle Farmer’s top players.
“My curve ball has been good this season,” Koskela said. “It’s moving more than it did last year. I wish I had gotten the perfect game but I’m glad to get the win.
“I think our team has a lot of potential. We’ve got people who’ve got the drive.”
Koskela, an unknown quantity as a pitcher entering the season, is the Redskins’ No. 1 starting catcher when not pitching. He entered the game with a 2.41 ERA for 20.1 innings. He struck out six of the 10 batters he faced with the Tigers’ only base runner coming on a one out walk to CJ Furman in the third inning.
Koskela entered the game with a .371 batting average. He drew two walks and scored two runs before flying out to left in the second inning when the Redskins sent 15 men to the plate and scored 11 runs.
The Ennis brothers, Gunner and Cooper, along with catcher Ethan Williams gave Koskela all the support he needed.
Freshman Gunner Ennis, hitting .414 at the start of the game, lifted his average to .469 as he was 3-for-3 with four RBI. Williams lifted his batting average 76 points to .290 as he was also 3-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Cooper Ennis, who will likely be Friday’s starting pitcher, showed in the first inning why he’s an ideal leadoff man. He created a run as he walked to start the game, stole second and third and scored when Tigers catcher Colby Strickland dropped a third strike to Geoff Hovis and had to throw to first. Ennis streaked home sliding in ahead of the return throw and that play seemed to set the tone for the day. He added a two-run single and a sacrifice fly in the second for three RBI.
The second inning was a nightmare for the winless Tigers (0-8, 0-5) as Bryan County had six hits and took advantage of four walks and three Claxton errors to end any question about the outcome.
After facing Claxton on Friday, the Redskins play at Statesboro on Monday before meeting Portal at home on Tuesday.
CLAXTON 000 – 0 0 4
BRYAN COUNTY 2(11)2 – 15 10 0
WP: Eli Koskela. LP: Cam Whitfield. Leading hitters—BC: Gunner Ennis 3-3. 4 RBI; Ethan Williams 3-3, 1 RBI; Cooper Ennis 1-1, 3 RBI; Gunner McClelland 1-2, 1 RBI; Keller Groover 1-2, 1 RBI. Next game: Bryan County at Claxton, 6 p.m. Friday.