SPARTA – Following a shaky start on April 16 that led to the Highland baseball team’s first loss of the season, senior pitcher Wyatt Groves decided to take a couple of days and clear his head.
When he came back, he was flawless over three innings, leading the Fighting Scots to an 18-3 win in five innings over Centerburg in Knox Morrow Athletic Conference play on Friday, April 23.
“I took a couple of days mentally,” Groves said. “I just thought about it for a while. I took a couple of days off baseball on Saturday and Sunday. My arm is feeling better because I didn’t throw much this week. I felt really good today, so I pitched really well.”
Groves gave up five runs over two innings in Highland’s loss to Fredericktown.
“It’s a shame because the Wyatt Groves (against Centerburg) is the Wyatt Groves we’ve seen all season,” Highland coach Donnie Kline said. “I believe he’s 4-1 on the season now and has had just a fantastic senior campaign.
“I wouldn’t say I was nervous for him, but it was definitely on my mind. I was wondering how he was going to respond to that. He’s been so dominant against good baseball teams. He had a hiccup against a good offense, but he bounced back.”
Meanwhile, the offense was providing him plenty of run support.
“It seemed like we were on offense the entire game,” Kline said. “It’s a shame because it almost overshadows what a good pitching performance Wyatt Groves had. (Usually) when we play Centerburg, it’s a race to three runs because it’s always a well-coached, tough game (with) a lot of small-ball. I thought (Friday) we put balls in play really hard and put pressure on them with good baserunning.”
Dom Carter drove in four runs on three hits and scored twice, and Blake Jodrey went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a run in Friday’s game against the Trojans.
“If anything, (Groves’) worst enemy was our offense,” Kline said. “He sat so long between innings; it was a challenge for him at the end.”
Dakota Baer broke through with Centerburg’s first hit to lead off the fourth inning. Isaiah Reynolds drove in two runs with a single later in the frame.
The Scots and the Freddies are still in a first-place tie for the league lead after splitting a pair of games last week.
“Every game is a playoff for us; every game is a tournament,” Kline said. “Our first goal every year is a conference championship. The boys understand that there’s no slip-ups.”
Baer hit a two-run home run to pull the Trojans to within 4-2 of the Scots in the third inning on Monday, April 26. But Highland responded with five runs in the fourth and seven in the fifth to roll to a 16-2 win to complete the season sweep.
Zach Pinkerton drove in four runs on two hits, and Carter added three RBIs on a pair of hits to pace the Scots.
Jodrey got the win, allowing two earned runs over five innings.
Carter came back on Saturday with another strong performance. He went 4-for-4 and drove in four runs to lead host Highland to a 12-4 win over River Valley in the opener of a doubleheader.
Hayden Kline and Cooper Merckling each drove in four runs to help the Scots complete the sweep with a 16-6 win over the Vikings in Game 2.
Kline had four hits, and Merckling and Jodrey added three apiece. Jodrey scored four runs and drove in two, and Logan Shaffer struck out seven and allowed two unearned runs over four innings to get the win.
