Mount Vernon 6, West Holmes 3
Caden Rowland was a standout at the plate and also on the hill for Mount Vernon (12-4, 7-3), putting together a solid day on the mound while pitching a complete game to get the win in a 6-3 victory for the Yellow Jackets over West Holmes (5-7, 2-3) on April 25.
With Rowland doing the damage at the plate and holding opposing batters in check on the mound, Mount Vernon took an early lead, and when the game got close, put it out of reach for the three-run victory.
The Yellow Jackets scored twice in the first and two more in the second to take a lead they never relinquished. The Knights scored three in the third, but MV tacked on single runs in the third and fourth for the win.
Rowland pitched all seven innings for MV, allowing six hits and three runs, striking out seven and allowing one walk. Rowland also led the team offensively, with two of Mount Vernon's four hits. He reached base in all four trips to the plate, going 2-for-2 with two walks, scoring two runs, driving in one and stealing three bases. The Yellow Jackets stole six bases in the game as a team. Trevor Buttke had a two-run double and Jonny Askew connected for a single.
In the first inning, Rowland walked and stole second, Konner Daughriety walked and Cash Finnell walked to load the bases. With two outs and the sacks full, Buttke doubled in two for a 2-0 Jackets lead.
Mount Vernon added all the runs they needed, with a two-run second. After Mason Moore reached on an error, he scored on a bunt single by Rowland. Rowland stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, scoring on a ground out by Daughriety to make it 4-0.
Rowland finished off the game with a 15-pitch seventh, striking out two and allowing a single before ending the game with a foul pop to third.
East Knox 3, Mount Gilead 2
In a tight pitching duel on April 25 between KMAC rivals East Knox (9-3, 6-2) and Mount Gilead (7-8, 3-5), East Knox ace Bryar Householder came out on top over Indians freshman Cole Frick in a 3-2 win.
The Bulldogs put a three spot on the board in the first inning and were held scoreless the rest of the way, but that was all EK would need for the win. It was a 3-0 game until the fifth inning, when the Indians scored, and then followed with a sixth-inning run. The Bulldogs were able to hold on for the win, with Householder throwing another gem in a complete-game effort.
Householder went all seven innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits while striking out 12 batters and walking one.
Fricke pitched well despite earning the loss, tossing a six-inning complete game, allowing three runs, with only one of them being earned. He allowed five hits and a walk and struck out one batter.
The Bulldogs had RBIs from Landon Spearman, Caden Wengerd and Josh Keith. Spearman went 1-for-3 with a double and Keith had a 1-for-1 day with a single. Keith was also a force on the base paths with a pair of steals. Cole Delaughder hit a double in a 1-or-3 showing, as did Householder.
Mount Gilead had four hits on the day and they were all singles. Nick Garvey led the way with a 1-for-3 showing, including the team’s lone RBI. Gage Baker, Carter Kennen and Judah Reid recorded the other hits.
Fredericktown 1, Northmor 0
Ben Mast of Fredericktown (13-0, 8-0) and Grant Bentley of Northmor (11-3, 7-2) went head-to-head and were both lights out on the hill in complete games, as Mast came out on top to give Fredericktown a 1-0 victory to remain undefeated.
Fredericktown’s only run came in the third inning, and the Freddies managed just three hits on the day. However, it was just enough to squeak by, as the Golden Knights only had two hits of their own.
Kaid Carpenter was the top offensive performer for the Freddies, going 2-for-3 with a double. Luke Bean went 1-for-3. While not recording a hit, Brady Lester made the most of his at-bats with a pair of walks and the only run scored in the game.
Northmor’s Bentley and Cole Cuffman both had two hits in the game, going 1-for-3 and 1-for-2, respectively. Bohdi Workman had a walk.
Mast allowed two hits and struck out eight while walking one in the shutout win for Fredericktown.
Bentley allowed one unearned run on three hits while walking three batters.
Cardington-Lincoln 3, Centerburg 2
KMAC rivals Cardington-Lincoln (5-7, 3-4) and Centerburg (2-12, 1-8) were locked into a pitcher’s duel much like the rest of the conference earlier this week, and this time the Pirates came out on top 3-2 with a strong complete game, 12-strikeout performance by Wyatt Wade.
Cardington-Lincoln scored twice in the second inning and held a 2-0 lead until the fourth, when Centerburg scored a run and followed with a run in the fifth to tie up the game at 2-2. In the seventh inning, the Pirates put a run on the board and were able to hold on for the win.
Wade went seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs with only one of them earned. He issued one walk while striking out 12 batters.
Reese Scott allowed three runs in a complete game for the Trojans, but none of them were earned. He allowed four hits, one walk and struck out three.
Leading the offense for the Pirates was Merek McClure, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Caden Dewitt also had an RBI in the game. Wade was 1-for-2 with a double, which was the only extra-base hit for the Pirates.
Centerburg was led by Griffin Collins, who was 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a steal.
Utica 7, Licking Valley 1
Tyler Collura was a force at the plate for the Utica Redskins (6-9, 4-7) and Jarrett Hill was throwing darts on the hill, holding Licking Valley (10-5, 7-4) to four hits in a complete game for a 7-1 victory.
The game was locked at 1-1 after two innings with both teams scoring in the first. Utica then blew up for three runs in both the third and fourth innings to make it a 7-1 game and never looked back.
Hill allowed one unearned run and a pair of walks to go with the four hits allowed, while striking out three batters in the win.
Utica connected for nine hits, with Collura picking up the only extra-base hits. Collura was 3-for-3 with a homer and a double, slugging his way to a four-RBI day. He also scored a pair of runs and stole a base. Roman Gamble was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. He also stole two bases. Connor Whisner crossed the plate twice in the win. Jordan Hartman was 1-for-3 and picked up an RBI for Utica.
Northmor 10, Danville 3
Danville grabbed an early lead against Northmor on April 25, but the Golden Knights scored 10 unanswered runs with the team racking up nine RBIs in a 10-3 victory.
The Blue Devils were off to a promising start with a 3-0 lead after one inning, but that didn’t last long as Northmor put a three-spot on the board in the second. After a scoreless third inning, the Golden Knights scored a run in the fourth, then four in the sixth and two in the seventh to secure the win.
Northmor had seven hits on the day and was led by Grant Bentley, who was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs, a walk and an RBI. Garrett Harvey went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a run. Also picking up RBIs in the game were two for Bohdi Workman and one each for Trevor Brubaker, Cooper Thomas and Caiden Martinez.
The Blue Devils had six total hits and were led by Kendall Carter with a 2-for-3 day. Lane Cline was 1-for-2 with a run, a walk and the team’s only RBI.
Drew Hammond picked up the win on the mound for Northmor, coming out of the bullpen to go five innings, allowing no earned runs and two hits while striking out nine batters.
Zach Sapp was the losing pitcher, going 3.1 innings and allowing three earned runs, three hits and four walks while striking out two batters.
