Destin Marlins pillage Pirates: Romair knocks two out (PHOTOS)

Ryan Romair hit not one, but two home runs Wednesday afternoon to lead the Destin Marlins in a 12-4 win over the visiting Pryor Pirates in middle school baseball action.

"I knew it was over when I hit it," said the eighth grader after he cracked the first pitch over the left field fence for two RBIs in the second inning.

"I definitely like fast balls," Romair said, noting that's what Pryor pitcher Trevor Hancock served up.

As for his second homer, it didn't come until his last at bat in the sixth inning.

"It was low," he said of the pitch. "I didn't expect it to be a home run."

Romair wasn't the only big stick for the Marlins Wednesday afternoon.

Destin catcher Nick Sherer belted a triple to the fence, a double and two singles, while Harrison Brice ripped three singles. Noah Bailey also had two singles for a couple of RBIs. Gage Peaden and Jacob Edelman both hit doubles. Robbie Leach and Justin Massey each singled.

"We had some kids that came in late in the game and do well," said Destin Coach Brian McDaniel. "Jordan Johnson came in and put the ball in play and moved the runners up and Massey came in and drove a run in which is always good coming off the bench."

In addition to the good at bats, the Marlins improved on the mound.

"Going in we focused on the mound because last game we walked six. We wanted to eliminate that number or get it as low as we can. Today we cut it in half," McDaniel said.

"And we had nine punch outs on the mound, which is good," he said.

Bailey pitched the first four innings for Destin and faced 22 batters. He struck out three, walked three and gave up five hits. Edelman threw two innings, faced eight batters, struck out five and gave up one hit, and Peaden finished up in the seventh with a strikeout and two ground balls for outs.

"I thought we did a good job on the mound today," McDaniel said.

"Pryor is a much improved baseball team … this is a quality win," he said.

Up next for Destin is a 4 p.m. game Monday in Niceville against the Ruckel Rams.