Baseball: Mosley builds momentum with rout of Arnold

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Mosley coach Todd Harless challenged the Dolphins’ character two games ago. On Wednesday, they did the same to Arnold.

Mosley blasted Arnold 11-1 in a game shortened to six innings by run rule at the Mike Gavlak Sports Complex. The Marlins (5-4) stood in for one inning against the Dolphins (6-2) before the bottom fell out in a cascade of four errors and 13 Mosley hits.

“I absolutely challenged their manhood,” Harless said after a loss to Crestview March 3. “Since then, our guys have really fought hard, have been fired up and are competitive.”

Arnold helped Mosley start its rout in the second inning. Starting pitcher and loser Hank Hobby walked Jordan Williams and Trent Emanuel to force in runs with the bases loaded. A passed ball on Tyler Williams’ at-bat also scored a run.

The Dolphins were ahead 4-0 and had scored three runs without having to take the bat off their shoulders. Unfortunately for the Marlins, they swung freely in the ensuing innings.

Mosley had 10 hits in the final four innings, leading to seven runs, including two each in the third and sixth innings. The Dolphins also had four hits and scored three runs in the fourth inning off Arnold reliever Nick Frost.

Now Arnold is the team with a challenge.

“It’s disappointing and we have been showing some frustration in practice and in games,” Arnold coach Mitch Kelly said. “And anytime you play Mosley you know you’re going to see their best ballgame.

“When you play that kind of competition and lose like this it can help you if you choose to move on and build from it.”

Arnold’s lone highlight came when Frost doubled in Calvin Cox for the Marlins’ run in the bottom of the third. The Marlins only had four hits against winning pitcher Taylor Marshall and reliever Austin Bizzle and had two other baserunners caught in rundowns between third and home.

Tyler Williams was 3 for 3 and scored four times for Mosley. Marshall was 3 for 4 with a double, Cody Consoli 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs and Dale Irving 2 for 4 with an RBI. Marshall struck out three and walked one while giving up three hits through four innings.

Mosley aims to add to a two-game winning streak against visiting Niceville on Friday.

Arnold hosts Rutherford on Friday.

• Mosley   042 302 — 11 13 2
• Arnold    001 000 — 1 4 4
• Marshall (W), Bizzle (5) and Irving; Hobby (L), Frost (2) and Tierney. 2B: Mosley (Marshall), Arnold (Frost). LOB: Mosley 7, Arnold 5.