JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— It was not the Appalachian League Opening Day that the Flyboys envisioned as the Johnson City Doughboys routed Greeneville, 14-1.
In front of 4,254 fans at TVA Credit Union Ballpark, the Doughboys batted around in back-to-back innings in the fifth and sixth to blow the first game of the year wide open. Landon Willeman (Bowling Green State) got the season-opening start for the Flyboys (0-1). He pitched four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth frame. After Willeman allowed two one-out singles and a walk, Doughboys third baseman Jonathan Xuereb (Appalachian State) delivered a two-run single to plate the game’s first runs. It did not get any better from there as Johnson City (1-0) sent 10 men to the plate and scored four more times to lead 6-0 after five innings.
The Doughboys again sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth inning and scored four more runs to reach double digits.
The Doughboys had nine returning players from last year and a number of them produced on Opening Day. Caleb Marmo (Walters State) was one for two with three RBIs. Logan Sutter (Folsom State) was three for five with three runs and an RBI. He hit the only home run in the game with a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning to get the Doughboys to 14 runs. He also recorded the final out of the game on the mound when John Dhima (Allegany CC) was unable to record all three outs in the ninth inning.
On the mound, Justin Guiliano (Canisius) started the game for Johnson City and pitched three scoreless innings. Kevin Matos (Dyersburg State) and Jacob Crews (Rice) also worked three and two scoreless innings, respectively. Matos (1-0) was credited with the win, while Willeman (0-1) took the loss.
Left-handed pitcher Shawn Scott (Tennessee) made his return to the mound for the first time in nearly two years after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and suffering from the yips. Unfortunately, Scott again exited the game with an injury that at this time is not expected to be a serious one.
The Flyboys will take on the Doughboys again Wednesday at Pioneer Park in Greeneville. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.
