Squire Baseball Collects 17 Runs, 17 Hits In Win Over Wildcats
Squire Baseball Collects 17 Runs, 17 Hits In Win Over Wildcats
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Lachlan Lennox-
Squire Baseball Collects 17 Runs, 17 Hits In Win Over WildcatsSOUTH WHITLEY - An explosive offense carried Manchester baseball to a 17-1 road win over Whitko Tuesday. The Squires recorded 17 hits during the rout.
The Squires took the lead off an errant first inning pitch, which was followed by a Mason Roberts home run. The Squires would post 15 more runs, while their defense and pitching held Whitko to just one.
Manchester’s offense posted runs in all five innings, including seven in the fifth. Senior pitcher Roberts led the way, hitting two home runs on three plate appearances. Junior catcher Devin Marcum also delivered on offense, going four for four at the plate with two RBIs. In all, 11 Manchester players scored runs in the game. Sam Martindale and Thane Creager added two runs each, while Trey Clark drove in three runs on three hits.
Regardless of the adjustments they made, Whitko’s defense could not contain the Squires’ power hitting. Evan Wilson took the loss, allowing six earned runs while recording two strikeouts in the first two innings. He was the first of five Wildcats to take the mound, alongside Aiden Hoffman, Slater Craig, Andreu Rider and Cody Thompson.
Wilson’s relief pitchers would combine to allow 11 runs while striking out only two Manchester batters. Whitko also committed two errors in the game.
Roberts’ pitching, on the other hand, stifled Whitko the entire game. Roberts recorded nine strikeouts and allowed only one run on five hits. Roberts recorded a complete game alongside his win. He was helped by reliable fielding, as his team committed only one error the entire game. A fourth inning double play highlighted the defense’s chemistry, as third baseman Mason Meyer fielded a ground ball at third for the first out and fired a ball across the diamond to first for the second. The play closed the fourth inning, leaving a runner stranded in scoring position.
While Whitko struggled early, several players performed at the plate. Junior Mason Lehman went two for two and drove in Whitko’s only RBI of the game in the third inning. Freshman Craig scored the run after reaching on a well-hit ground ball. Freshman Ryan Brown also recorded a hit for the Wildcats, but was left stranded on third.
Manchester and Tippecanoe Valley remain the only teams in the Three Rivers Conference yet to lose in league play. The Squires have won eight games in a row, outscoring their opponents 85-28 on the season. The two teams will face off Monday.
The Wildcats are on the opposite end of the spectrum, having lost their last six games. They have allowed nearly 15 runs per game in that stretch.
Manchester (9-1, 3-0) will look to continue its winning streak at 11 a.m. Saturday when it hosts Churubusco. Whitko (1-7, 0-3) will attempt to solve its problems at 4:30 p.m. Friday, when Adams Central comes to South Whitley.
