Shelton 8, Jonathan Law 3

The Gaels didn’t waste any time showing off their muscle in their regular season opener Wednesday against Jonathan Law, the MaxPreps no. 1 ranked team in the state.

Second baseman Eric Christensen got things rolling with a lead off home run at the Shelton High School baseball field.

I was just trying to make contact,” Christensen said. I wasn’t really sure that it went out, as I was aiming for a triple as I approached second base. My job is to get on base and make solid contact. I know that if I get on, the guys behind me are talented and will drive me home.”

Photo: DaveChoate.com
Photo: DaveChoate.com
Christensen contributed with two more clutch hits and scored four runs, leading the Gaels to an 8 – 3 victory.

The Gaels’ ace and senior leader, Dan St. George, pitched a complete game and had the Lawmen off balance all afternoon. St. George pitched a four-hitter, striking out six.

A National Honor Society student, St. George employed a bit of psychology Wednesday.

I put myself in their shoes and ask myself What pitch don’t I want to see right now?’ And that’s what I give them. I’m a big Johan Santana fan because he gets hitters out as with his mind as much as he does his arm.” 

St. George showed off that intelligence by getting ahead of the Law hitters with first pitch strikes to 22 of the 28 batters he faced.

The Lawmen tied the game 1 – 1 in the third inning on an infield error. They looked to add more with runners on second and third with two outs. 

St. George labored against the next hitter as the batter kept fouling off pitches. St. George came at with him with the element of surprise – his only knuckleball of the game – and struck him out. 

He seemed to be sitting on my curveball, so I gave him the last thing he expected.” said St. George, grinning.

The Gaels came back in the third inning to take the lead 2 – 1 with some small ball – a walk, sacrifice, and a single. 

Christensen came through again in the fourth inning with a two-run double to make the lead 4 – 1. The Gaels added another run scoring Christensen from second with a single. They closed the inning with a 5 – 1 lead.

Law came back in the fifth with two runs and, for the moment, made what was looking like a comeback. The Gaels killed whatever momentum Law has by adding three more runs in the sixth in what would be the final score, 8 – 3.

Tom Carroll provided much of the Gaels offensive arsenal with two big hits in the game.

Coach Scott Gura addressed his team after the game.

Hitting the ball? No question. Defense … defense is the question. We all know we can hit — but how good we are in the field will determine how far we’ll go.”

Up next for Shelton — Career Magnet, Friday, at home, 3:45 p.m.

Keep local reporting alive. Donate.ValleyIndy.org