The La Center baseball team took both games in its doubleheader against King’s Way Christian on Tuesday, April 25, as they secured a 9-4 victory in game one followed by a 6-0 shutout.
During game one at Luke Jensen Sports Park, the Wildcats had 10 hits compared to King’s Way’s two.
Justin Fuller led La Center with three hits and reached base for a fourth time on an error in his four at-bats. Caden Taylor and Houston Coyle both had two hits and two runs-batted-in.
“Our bats have been really hot and averaging like 10 or 11 runs a game,” La Center Head Coach Hunter Weiss said. “Guys are just having really good approaches and hitting the ball gap to gap.”
In the top of the third inning, Coyle hit a single to center field that scored Levi Giles to get the runs started for the game. Later in the inning, Smith Stimmel hit a high fly ball to shallow center field that was dropped, which allowed King’s Way two runs on the error.
La Center gained a three-run lead and then lost it in the bottom of the fourth. Alex Mora pitched great for three innings, but struggled in the fourth. King’s Way was able to tie the game and then gained a promising 4-3 lead with a lot of momentum. Mora went four innings, allowing two hits, four runs, two of which were earned, and also achieved three strikeouts and two walks.
Taylor doubled on a fly ball to left field to start off the fifth inning and then stole third during Coyle’s at-bat. Coyle hit a perfect fly ball to center field that allowed Taylor to tie up the game 4-4 in the fifth.
Garrett Maunu then came in for three innings of relief on the mound. Maunu gave up no hits and struck out two with one walk.
The Wildcats regained the lead after Taylor singled with a line drive to right field that scored two. The sixth inning ended with the Wildcats up, 6-4.
The top of the seventh saw three more runs cross the plate for La Center allowing them to win 9-4.
“Offense has been good. Defense has picked it up lately with fielding the ball (and) throwing the ball across the diamond,” Weiss said. “Really, really clean job. Guys were making plays left and right.”
In game two, the Wildcats were dominant on the field as they hit for seven, scored six and gave up no runs.
Austin Aseph pitched all seven innings and gave up two hits with four strikeouts and two walks on 81 pitches.
Hits were spread out amongst players, with Coyle securing two. Coyle also had three stolen bases with Branson Castleberry adding a hit and stolen base as well.
Helping Aseph on the mound, La Center’s defense gave up zero errors with Stimmel having nine chances.
The Wildcats were set to close out its season with a three-game series against Castle Rock. The first two games were scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, at home and the final game was set for the road on Friday, May 5.
