Bulldogs Done In By Marshall In Opener

Young Trenton Team Collects Just Two Hits
With the current makeup of the Trenton High School baseball team there were going to undoubtedly be some growing pains this season. That premonition didn’t waste any time coming to light, either.
Trenton opened it’s 2021 season on Monday, traveling to Marshall where the host Owls promptly turned the Bulldogs away with a 15-0 victory in just three innings.
Marshall was a difficult test for Trenton out of the gate. The Owls’ lineup is senior laden and the school itself competes a full class level above the Bulldogs. Those signs showed early on as Marshall jumped on Trenton in the bottom of the first inning, plating 12 runs off Trenton starter Tucker Otto.
Things were better in the second with Trenton keeping the Owls off the board, but three runs in the bottom of the third ended the game via the 15-run rule.
“The first inning was really tough, but it was good to see how the players reacted,” Trenton coach Joel Hultman said. “Sometimes you see players or teams hang their heads. They took it, learned from it and hung a zero in the second inning.
“Coming in we knew this was a bigger school with a senior-led team. We knew what we were up against. We were just looking for positives and there were a lot of them. The key is building on them throughout the season so we are playing our best toward the end. I think we will be a tough team to beat.”
Trenton had two hits on the night, both singles, coming off the bats of senior Brice Gibler and Brayden Wiggins, who recorded his first career varsity hit.
Otto (0-1) took the loss on the hill, allowing the 12 runs in the first on 10 hits, one a home run, and a walk. Wiggins hurled the final inning and one-third before the run rule came into effect. He allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two.
The Bulldogs established an 0-1 start to the season with the loss.
Trenton will be at home for the first time in 2021 on Friday, playing host to the Lathrop Mules who are 2-0 after sweeping a doubleheader with Van Horn last Saturday. Action at Burleigh Grimes Field is scheduled for a 4:30 first pitch.