The sound of a baseball cracking off an aluminum bat usually doesn't favor the hitter in cold weather to start the high school baseball season in Northern Ohio.
But for the Sandusky baseball team, it's been a sound of beauty.
The Blue Streak bats stayed red-hot in a run-rule win over host Port Clinton, scoring a 15-2 win in five innings of a non-conference game.
For the second straight game, Sandusky (2-0) put up 15 runs on the scoreboard and got balanced hitting across the board. The Streaks beat Clyde on Monday, 15-3.
Sandusky coach Matt Martin is extremely pleased with his offense, as the Streaks have pounded out 21 hits in the first two games.
"We've hit the ball well and have put it in play," Martin said. "We have only had five or six strikeouts so far, so that's a good thing. If you put the ball in play in nice, cold weather, good things will happen.
"Especially with our speed. I think it puts a little more pressure on the other team."
Conversely, the defense of the Redskins didn't help matters. Port Clinton committed seven errors, which led to nine unearned runs crossing the plate against losing pitcher Josh Graves.
"You can't afford to give a team like that extra outs, and we sure did that today," Port Clinton coach Tracy Bodi said. "That was pretty much it. We need to come more focused, bear down and make those plays."
Xavier Turner finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI to lead Sandusky. The junior is 7-for-9 at the plate with three doubles, a triple and two RBIs in the first two games.
Mike Drake was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Shane Blevins was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Kendrick Aaron also added two hits, including a double and two RBIs.
Trey Keegan, Brady Smith, Tristen Jeffries and Dominic Aaron all added RBIs for Sandusky.
On the mound, Jordan Esposito got the win after pitching four innings and allowing two runs on three hits.
He struck out two batters and walked two. The senior only threw 29 pitches through the first three innings, but had to throw 29 in the fourth inning that forced Martin to go to Kendrick Aaron for a scoreless and hitless fifth.
"Jordan was very solid," Martin said. "Early in the season with his pitch count near 60, we decided he was done after that fourth inning. Kenny threw 21 pitches in relief on Monday and comes back with just 13 pitches today. It was a solid effort by everyone."
For Port Clinton, Trey Gluth had two hits and an RBI while Eric Reynolds added an RBI single and Graves also singled for the lone Redskin hits. Graves struck out two and walked three in his three innings of work on the mound.
Sandusky will play two games on Saturday at Perkins High School. The Blue Streaks will take on Cuyahoga Heights around 1:30 p.m. and play the crosstown Pirates after the first game.
Port Clinton hosts Elmwood at 11 a.m. Saturday for a non-conference doubleheader.
Sandusky 352 32 -- 15 10 1
Port Clinton 000 20 -- 2 4 7
WP -- Esposito (1-0); LP -- Graves; 2B -- (S): Turner (2), Aaron, Drake
