Marietta Post 64 starting pitcher Casey Burkhammer pitched six innings of one-run ball and struck out nine while earning the win in Wednesday’s 5-2 victory over Clarksburg Post 13 at Pioneer Park. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

MARIETTA – One of the parents for Marietta Post 64 may be on to something.

At one point during Wednesday’s game with Clarksburg Post 13 after Post 64 starting pitcher Casey Burkhammer recorded one of his nine strikeouts, a voice bellowed out “that’s Casey with a K.”

Burkhammer, who closed out his senior year at St. Marys High School as a first-team, all-stater, experienced only one minor hiccup while giving Post 64 six innings of one-run ball in a 5-2 win at Pioneer Park.

He did his damage from the same mound he will be standing on when he joins the baseball program at Marietta College in the fall.

“I was pretty relaxed,” Burkhammer said. “I tried not to put as much pressure on myself.”

Marietta Post 64’s Jayce Hilverding (13) signals for teammate Owen Warden to slide as part of Braun Doak’s two-run single in the second inning of Wednesday’s 5-2 win over Clarksburg Post 13 at Pioneer Park. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Burkhammer was especially lights out against the top three in the Post 13 order. They were a combined 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts.

“I just try and treat all hitters the same, honestly,” Burkhammer said.

Burkhammer’s one snafu occurred in the top of the fourth inning with Marietta leading 5-0. He opened the game retiring 11 of the first 12 batters he faced before Saverio Destito doubled and Jason Beachler followed with a single – all with two outs.

A wild pitch allowed Destito to score, while Beachler advanced to third base. On the very next pitch, Burkhammer posted a backwards ‘K’ – one of six for the game.

“Guys are going to get their hits, so you just have to move on,” Burkhammer said.

Marietta Post 64 batter Jacob Sealey gets hit by a pitch during the second inning of Wednesday’s game against Clarksburg Post 13 at Pioneer Park. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Clarksburg scored its only other run in the seventh inning as Marietta improved to 12-9.

“Casey threw great – maybe the best he has thrown all year,” Marietta head coach Chad Porter said. “He was able to locate north and south with his fastball. His breaking ball was better than it has at any point this season.”

Porter was glad to see the team compete in all three phases of the game, but felt his players got lax at the plate following its five-run outburst in the second inning. In the final four innings, two Clarksburg relievers combined to allow just one hit and strike out five.

At one juncture, Porter called his players together in the dugout between innings after a scoreless fifth inning for the Clarksburg offense.

“You have to have this all gas, no brakes approach,” Porter said. “You have to be able to put teams away. That’s what the meeting was about.

Marietta Post 64 catcher Owen Warden blocks a pitch from going to the backstop during Wednesday’s game against Clarksburg Post 13 at Pioneer Park. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I felt our approaches at the plate weren’t as good as they were in the (second inning). Fortunately our pitching and defense were really good tonight.”

With the game still scoreless entering the bottom of the second inning, Marietta worked on the wildness of Clarksburg starting pitcher Jameson Saunders. Post 64 sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs on just two hits – a two-run single from Braun Doak followed by Saben Jonas’ RBI single.

Sealey led off the inning getting hit by a pitch and scored the first run of the game. Jayce Hilverding also got plunked with the bases loaded to earn an RBI the hard way. Saunders also walked three batters in the inning.

Drew Warden, Hilverding, Owen Warden and Gavin Fling each were credited with a run scored. Will Tornes drove in a run on a ground out.

“Our approach is to keep runners moving,” Porter said. “I thought our approaches at the plate were really good that inning. We laid off pitches and were able to get into positive counts.”

Marietta Post 64 third baseman Logan Fling fields a grounder and retires the batter at first base during Wednesday’s game against Clarksburg Post 13 at Pioneer Park. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

At Pioneer Park

Marietta (Post 64) 5, Clarksburg (Post 13) 2

Post 13 000 100 1 – 2 4 0

Post 64 050 000 x – 5 4 2

WP: Casey Burkhammer 6.0IP 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 9SO

Marietta Post 64 first baseman Jayce Hilverdering awaits the throw as Clarksburg Post 13 baserunner Jax Anderson dives back to first base on a pickoff attempt during Wednesday’s game at Pioneer Park. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Jacob Sealey 1.0IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB 0SO

LP: Jameson Saunders 2.0IP 3H 5R 5ER 3BB 1SO

Jax Anderson 3.0IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 4SO

Anthony Mossesso 1.0IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1SO

Leading Hitters

Clarksburg (7-7): Saverio Destito 1-3, run, 2B; Jason Beachler 1-2; Jax Anderson 1-1, run; Jovanni MInnocci 1-3

Marietta (12-9): Will Tornes RBI; Gavin Fling run; Braun Doak 2-3, 2 RBIs, SB; Saben Jonas 1-2, RBI, SB; Jacob Sealey run; Drew Warden 1-2, run; Jayce Hilverding run, RBI; Owen Warden run