The Cardington-Lincoln baseball team’s season is underway, and while they went 1-2 to start the year, Wyatt Wade spun a gem in a 10 strikeout complete game to beat the reigning KMAC champion Fredericktown Freddies.
The Pirates return a strong core of six starters to this year’s squad and Coach Ryan Goetzman feels they will be in good shape. Last year the Cardington-Lincoln went 11-11 and they have a goal to compete well and give themselves a chance each night. Goetzman is entering his third season as the team’s skipper with a record of 23-24 over his first two years. The team lost four players to graduation, most notably Dillon Minturn who was a first team All-KMAC selection.
“We bring a lot of guys back but have to replace our catcher this year,” Goetzman said. “We will have a veteran group who will need to get the young guys up to speed quickly.”
The Pirates returns six starters this season including Wyatt Wade, AJ Hall, Merek McCLure, Denton Garrison, Caden Dewitt and Wyatt Denney. The team will be starting a pair of freshmen in James Fiant and Fisher Schuman, as well.
Wade was first team All-KMAC, playing pitcher and infield. He batted .329 with a .380 on base percentage. On the hill he had a 3.20 ERA in 34.1 innings. Wade has already made an immediate impact this season, pitching a complete game to beat the reigning KMAC champion Fredericktown Freddies last week.
Hall was second team All-KMAC and is gearing up for a big senior season. On the mound he had a 1.50 ERA over 23.1 innings, and he also batted .342 playing all over the field.
Dewitt is a senior who looks to repeat success he had pitching last year, when he had a 1.189 ERA over 17.2 innings.
“The KMAC should be a fun league this year with every game meaning a lot,” said Goetzman. “We start out conference play with defending champs Fredericktown and they will always be solid. Looking forward to a competitive season in a good baseball league."
Clear Fork 13, Cardington-Lincoln 5
Cardington-Lincoln opened up the baseball season against Clear Fork on March 25, and despite putting four runs up in the first inning, the Pirates couldn’t keep up with the Colts in a 13-5 loss.
The Pirates went up 4-0 in the top of the first, but the Colts wasted no time and put five on the board in their half of the inning to take a one run lead. Cardington-Lincoln tied it up with a run in the second, but Clear Fork tacked on one of their own to keep a one run lead. Clear Fork put up two in the third, a run in the fifth and four insurance runs in the sixth to take a commanding win.
Cardington-Lincoln had four singles on the day, and walked five times in the game. Caden Dewitt was 1-for-2 with two runs and a walk. Wyatt Wade went 1-for-3 with a run and a walk, and stole two bags. Fisher Schuman was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and James Fiant was 1-for-3 and a steal. AJ Hall had an RBI on a sacrifice fly, as well. Evan Marquis also had a steal in the game.
Cardington-Lincoln 2, Fredericktown 1
Wyatt Wade went the distance for the Pirates in a KMAC matchup with reigning KMAC champion Fredericktown, striking out 10 in a 2-1 win for Cardington-Lincoln on March 27.
The Pirates got on the board in the first inning, capitalizing off a Fredericktown error. Denton Garrison knocked a run home on a sacrifice fly, and he later came around to score. Those were all the runs the Pirates needed in the win, as Wade was lights out the whole way.
Wade allowed only one run, and it was unearned, with five hits and four walks to pick up the win. He was also the top player at the dish, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
AJ Hall doubled and walked in a 1-for-3 day, and also stole a bag. Merek McClure and Garrison each had RBIs despite not getting hits. McClure and Wade each had two steals.
While Fredericktown pitching was also solid, Korbin McGowan took the loss. He started the game and allowed two runs, but both were unearned. He also allowed three hits, three walks and struck out three batters.
Fredericktown’s offense was led by Devon Whitt, who went 2-for-3
Fredericktown 10, Cardington-Lincoln 3
Fredericktown bounced back on March 28, taking a 10-3 win over the Pirates thanks mostly to a seven run fifth inning.
The Freddies scored first in the second inning on an error by the Pirates. However, Cardington-Lincoln would take the lead in the bottom of the third inning. McClure singled and Garrison hit a sacrifice fly, with each scoring.
The big fifth inning for the Freddies was the nail in the coffin, highlighted by a two run single by McGowan. Cardington-Lincoln responded with a run to make it an 8-3 game, but Fredericktown tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings to secure the win.
Fredericktown’s Kaine Sheriff picked up the win, going six innings allowing seven hits, three earned runs and a walk. He struck out seven batters in the game.
Hall took the loss for the Pirates, and it was all due to defensive mishaps as he allowed eight runs with none of them earned. He gave up five hits and three walks, while striking out six batters.
McGowan led the Freddies with a 3-for-4 day and three RBIs. He also scored a run in the win.
The Pirates were led by Hall’s 2-for-3 day.
