Welcome back outside boys.

The Chesterton baseball team thoroughly enjoyed their time outside on Friday and why wouldn’t they have after pounding Crown Point 11-0 in a Duneland Athletic Conference contest.

“You have to give Brian Finley a lot of credit,” Chesterton coach Jack Campbell said. “He’s had a long last couple of days getting the softball field ready yesterday and our field today. It’s nice to get outside and play ball again.

“We played last Saturday twice and then we’ve been in the fieldhouse since. I don’t know if you can count on three home runs every day though.”

After CHS starting pitcher Jake Post struck out the side to start the game, Jordan Peterson drilled a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead.

With one out in the bottom of second, Post reached on a one-out error and Zach Hise walked. Scott Homer singled to plate Post and move Hise to third. Hise scored on an apparent pickoff attempt of Homner.

The lead grew to 4-0 when Zach Rochowiak walked with two outs, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single from Alex Olson.

“Nothing surprises me anymore,” Campbell said. “It’s to the kids credit that they’ve been focused on getting the job done inside the last week and bringing it out here today.”

That was more than enough for Post who only allowed two hits, one in the second and in the third, as the Bulldogs struck out 10 times in five innings.

“Jake made some really big pitches to strike kids out when they did threaten,” Campbell said. “He’s been good for us all year. Those guys didn’t strike themselves out.

“I can’t say enough about pitches that work quickly. The kids know what’s going on and call their own pitches. They know what’s working that day and the kids in the field respond better when you don’t have that long delay every pitch.”

The Trojans put an end to the game with a seven-run fifth inning that didn’t see Crown Point record an out.

KJ Zelenika drove a solo home run over the left-field wall and a single by Peterson put an end to the day of CP starter Jake Lindeman. Stephen Galik didn’t fare any better.

A walk to Rochowiak and a two-run double by Olson made it 7-0. A walk to Post was followed by an RBI double by Zach Hise. Scott Homer ended the game with a three-run home run.

“We bleed one through the middle and they throw one away to get us a lead early on,” Campbell said. “Those are the things that happened to us last year. We found a lot of ways to lose those games, and this year, we’re finding a way to win them.”

When they get to play that is.

SCORING BY INNINGS

Crown Point 000 00 -- 0 2 3

Chesterton 121 07 -- 11 8 1

2B -- Alex Olson, Zach Hise ©. HR -- KJ Zelenika, Jordan Peterson, Scott Homner ©. Pitching Summary -- Crown Point -- Jake Lindeman (4 IP, 5 H, 4 K, 3 BB), Stephen Galik (0 IP, 3 H, 0 K, 2 BB); Chesterton -- Jake Post (5 IP, 2 H, 10 K, 1 BB). WP -- Post. LP -- Lindeman.

Posted 5/2/2011