BERNIE -- The Bernie Mules will need Wyatt Barnett to lead the way if they want to repeat as district champions next spring. Barnett responded in a big way Thursday, smashing a three-run homer to break a 1-all tie and lead the Mules to a 7-3 home-opening victory over the Senath-Hornersville Lions.
"He's going to have to be that guy for us," Bernie coach Marcus Massey said of the senior catcher. "Out of everybody we have, he's played a lot of baseball. He's played a lot of varsity baseball. He started out as a freshman on a really good team. He's been around a long time. For us to be successful in a tough game -- that was tight there in that situation -- he needs to come through and luckily today he did for us."
The Mules had two outs in the fifth inning before Weston Zoll singled up the middle, and Josh Vaughn drew a walk. Barnett homered over the towering fence in left field to give the Mules a 4-1 lead.
"I was just trying to do my job for the team and put it in play," Barnett said. "I got lucky and got a piece of it. We got what we needed, a big two-out hit."
Barnett said the pitch was low and away.
"As soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone," Barnett said.
Barnett's big hit overshadowed a solid outing by freshman starting pitcher John Nimmo, who allowed one unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
"That's his first varsity outing ever," Massey said. "To come out and go five innings, throw well and throw strikes, (I'm) super proud of him. Hopefully, he's got a bright future ahead of him."
Nimmo qualified for the win because the Mules scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth.
Senath-Hornersville left-hander Parker Rhew was charged with the loss. He yielded four runs, three earned, on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Bernie struck first with an unearned run in the first inning. Vaughn singled with one out and moved to second on a fielding error by the third baseman. Jaden McGowan, who went 3 for 4, drove him home with a single up the middle.
The Lions tied the score in the fourth, benefitting on two errors by Bernie. Cameron Ruth led off with a single to left, advanced to second when Jose Andrade drew a walk, dashed to third on a passed ball and scored on an error by the left fielder.
Bernie scored three insurance runs in the sixth against relief pitcher Fernando Meza. Landon Zoll drew a leadoff walk, stole second and moved to third on Blake Harty's single. Noah Foster singled home Landon Zoll, and Weston Zoll doubled home Harty and Foster for a 7-1 lead.
The Lions attempted to rally in the seventh, scoring two runs against relief pitcher Weston Zoll.
The first four batters reached base. However, the third hitter, Dawson Duckworth grounded to the shortstop, who forced out Zander Owens at third base. Brayden Bailey singled home Rhew, and Ruth hit a sacrifice fly to left field, slicing Bernie's lead to 7-3.
However, Weston Zoll retired Andrade on a ground out to shortstop to end the game.