PREPS: Dayton's Ply, Cole turn in superb pitching performances

DAYTON - Dayton High, thanks to a nine-run first inning, rolled to an easy 12-1 win over South Tahoe in a 3A crossover game Friday afternoon.

The Dust Devils, who have opened the season with 13 straight wins, continue crossover games today at 12 and 2 against Sparks and Truckee, respectively.

"This doesn't happen every day," Dayton coach Jay Merrell said. "It's definitely something special. I'm trying to keep them focused and not think ahead."

As has been the case all year, Dayton got another good starting effort from Timo Ply. The 6-foot-4 right-hander struck out five and allowed just three hits, singles by Derek Clelan and Rylan Tepper, and a homer by Tyler Sharp.

"Another great game (by Timo)," Merrell said. "He had control the whole way and threw a ton of strikes and got a lot of groundballs."

In Dayton's nine-run first, No. 9 hitter Logan Garling had a two-run single while Logan Jones and Houston Berntson had run-scoring hits.

Berntson made it 10-0 in the second with a solo homer, and Garling accounted for Dayton's final two runs with a two-run homer, his third round-tripper of the season.

Berntson went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs, while Sam Hadley went 2-for-2. Jones went 2-for-3 and Garling finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

SOFTBALL: DAYTON

WINS 1-0

DAYTON - Kenzie Cole had a perfect game for six innings before settling for a two-hitter and the win over South Tahoe.

Cole struck out 17 and didn't walk a batter. The Vikings' Brittany Sanchez broke up the no-hitter leading off the seventh and Emily Rives followed with another single. Cole retired the side without further damage.

"That was one of her best outings," Dayton coach Daven Passalacqua said. "Holy smokes, it has to be in the top three. She was in her zone today."

The only run of the game came in the sixth when Gemma Ramirez singled, stole second base, was sacrificed over to third and scored on a passed ball.

Ramirez collected two hits while Cheyenna Burrows, Cole, Kaylee Alexander and Crystal Macgirvin added one each.

Mel Smith of South Tahoe struck out seven and scattered six hits in a losing effort.

Dayton returns to action today at noon and 2 today against Sparks and Truckee.