Genoa's Edwards steps in and beats Otsego in NBC

GENOA – Kyle Edwards was a surprise starter on the mound Monday as he filled in for an injured Genoa teammate.

Edwards answered the call by striking out the first two batters and retiring the side in order on 10 pitches in the first inning as the Comets defeated Otsego 4-2 in the Northern Buckeye Conference.

"Kyle made an emergency start and the job he did was everything," Genoa coach Ron Rightnowar said. "Five innings and one earned run was spectacular. We got a couple hits when we needed."

Edwards struck out six and walked one.

"It's always good to start strong," he said. "If you throw strikes that's all that matters. Walks come back to haunt you. If we throw strikes we'll get the job done. It was a good team win."

Edwards allowed three hits and two runs in five innings.

"My philosophy … I don't throw extremely hard so I have confidence in my team behind me to make plays," Edwards said. "I hit my spots and (catcher Nick) Wolfey called a good game."

Wolfe singled to drive in Edwards with Genoa's first run for a 2-1 deficit in the third.

"We needed to get on the board," Wolfe said. "I was looking for something to hit to the right side and I pushed it through to get a run in."

Sophomore Kurtis Lee and Blake Traver each scored in the fourth as Edwards drove in a run with an infield single and the Comets took the lead for good. Genoa capped the scoring as Lee singled to drive in Matt Aumiller in the fifth.

"It's rewarding when you see a guy work into a spot," Rightnowar said of Lee. "He's worked his tail off since January and every opportunity he's had to improve, he's taken it. He worked his way into a start and hopefully he can keep it going.

"We need help from the young guys and hopefully it's a sign of things to come."

Genoa has only one loss in the NBC.

"We don't talk about it," Rightnowar said of the league race. "The mindset is to play the game to the highest level we're capable. At the end, somebody will tell us (who took the crown)."

mhorn@gannett.com

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