Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Ohio RedStorm is showcasing some of the local talent and the team is proving to be more than competitive with other areas.

In its fourth season, the RedStorm is composed of local players who have won seven tournaments during that time span. The team usually plays at least seven tournaments each summer.

Members of the team include:

Jack Goodwin (Rock Hill 2014 graduate) 3B-OF; Steven Easterling (Ironton 2013) P-C; Derek Battise (Ironton 2014) 1B-P; Jordan Hairston (Rock Hill 2014) C-P; Jonathan Joseph (Rock Hill 2014) P-1B; Brandon Boggs (South Point 2014) P-1B; Tanner Mays (Symmes Valley 2015) SS-MIF-P; Laden Delawder (Rock Hill 2013) OF; Joe Bias (Chesapeake 2015) SS-MIF-P; Zayne Simmons (Raceland 2013) P-INF; Landon Adams (Raceland 2016) C-OF; Brandon Adams (Cabell Midland 2015) P-OF-SS; Ben Fulks (Huntington 2015) OF-C.

The RedStorm began the summer by going 2-2 in the Edge Baseball Wood Bat Showcase in Johnson City, TN.

After a 9-0 loss to Diamond Mine, the RedStorm lost to the Akedema Dodgers 8-7 at the East Tennessee State University field. They followed that with a 7-6 revenge win over Diamond Mine at Cardinal Park before beating 7-4 to the Morgantown Aggies 7-4 at Milligan College.

Two weekends ago in the Huntington Hounds Wood Bat Classic, the RedStorm reached the semifinals before losing 11-10 to the Hounds.

They also lost in Round One when the Hounds got a run in the bottom of the seventh to win 1-0.

This past week in the Gene Bennett Classic, the RedStorm was 3-3 overall and reached the Elite 8 in a tournament where many of the teams featured players who have been drafted by major league teams.

The RedStorm beat the Ohio Yankees from Akron 7-2 in their opener and then outscored the Cage Rat Baseball Academy 12-6.

The Motor City Prospects edged the RedStorm 6-5 and then the talent-stacked Cincinnati Midland Redskins blanked the RedStorm 11-0.

However, the RedStorm bounced back to beat the Dayton Classics 5-2 before falling to the Ohio Warhawks 15-2.

This weekend the RedStorm will play in the Flash Baseball Complex in Cincinnati. That will be followed with the Ashland Fourth of July Tournament and then the Buckeye Elite Showcase Tournament in Columbus.