BUSHEY STAYS HOT; CARDS ROUT SALEM

STRUTHERS, OH= Cardinal Mooney handled business in a big way Thursday, blanking Salem 10-0 behind a red-hot day at the plate from Andrew Bushey and a lights-out start from Ford Stacy.

Bushey was locked in, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and two singles, driving the Cardinals’ offense from the jump. Mooney got the scoring started in the first with a knock from Kaden Reese, then kept it rolling in the second as both Bushey and Ryan Reese drove in runs with base hits. By the third, it was 4-0, and Mooney was just getting warmed up.

On the mound, Stacy was in full command. The righty tossed five shutout innings, scattering just two hits while fanning five and walking two. Taco Verroco came in to finish it off with a clean inning, striking out a pair and keeping the shutout intact.

Mooney racked up 12 hits on the day, with Bushey and Ben Oddis each collecting three and Will Petty adding two of his own. The Cardinals didn’t just hit—they ran wild, swiping 15 bags and drawing six walks to keep the pressure cranked. Bushey, Verroco, and Reese each had multiple steals in a game that saw Mooney do just about everything right—clean defense, aggressive base running, and timely hitting.

Salem mustered just two hits—one each from Braydon Van Dyne and Troy Gibson—who also swiped a couple bags of his own.

Mooney now sets its sights on Saturday’s home showdown with Canton Central Catholic, riding high with the bats humming and the arms dealing.