By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Now that’s more like it.

Two days after making some costly mistakes in a 7-6 season-opening loss to Valley (Ala.), the Callaway Cavaliers looked like a different ballclub in a 10-2 win over Pacelli in their home opener.

The Cavs got a strong pitching performance from Kane Keith and Tanner Thompson, they were nearly flawless on defense, and Daniel Crowe came through with a clutch two-run triple in the first inning that highlighted a five-run inning.

Comparing the second game to the first game, Callaway coach Dusty Hubbard said it was “10 times better.”

The biggest improvement, he said, came in the field where, as is usually the case at Callaway, the players didn’t make many mistakes.

“We didn’t have a lot of strikeouts. They put it in play, and we made the plays,” Hubbard said. “You win a lot of games that way.”

On the mound, Keith was superb.

The freshman left-hander struck out five and walked just one in allowing two runs in five innings.

Tanner Thompson, who started the Valley game and didn’t make it out of the first inning, pitched two scoreless innings to close the game.

“He looked good, a lot better than he did (Tuesday),” Hubbard said. “We wanted to get him back out there, and he threw it real good.”

At the plate, in addition to Crowe’s big hit, Brandon Bowen and Chris Laye each had two hits.

Bowen had an RBI double, and Laye drove in two runs.

Dominique Smedley also had a hit.

The Cavs took advantage of some Pacelli mistakes to jump on top.

Pacelli’s pitcher hit two batters and walked two more in the first inning, and the end result was a five-run outburst.

“It gave us a chance to get some runners on, and Daniel Crowe got the big hit,” Hubbard said.

Callaway added single runs in the third and sixth innings and three runs in the fifth.

Callaway is scheduled to host Heard County on Tuesday, although Hubbard said there’s a chance that game could be pushed up to Monday.