Saints Bats On Fire Against Pratt

By Nacole Miller, Seward County Sports Information

LIBERAL, Kan. – The Seward County baseball team (11-8, 2-2 KJCCC) flipped the script from what happened last Thursday against Pratt and came back ready to win. The Saints won today’s double header to Pratt 16-3 and 19-7.

GAME ONE RECAP

Cole Evans (3-0) started and finished on the mound for the Saints in game one. The start of the game was slow, but picked up quickly in the second inning where the Beavers were the first to score a run. The Saints answered back when a pass ball thrown by Beavers pitcher Lucas Wept (1-1) scored Dylan Paul, while allowing Jose Caraballo to advance to second and Joe Kuhn advance to third. Right after, Cole Bergdall singled to second base and Caraballo advanced while Kuhn scored again for the Saints making it 2-1.

Cruz Shope then came up to bat and grounded out to second base, scoring Caraballo and advancing Bergdall. Brendan Madsen doubled down the right field line scoring Caraballo. Seward doesn’t finish the inning there, Braxton Allen doubled to left center and scored Madsen making it a 5-1 game.

In the top of the third the Beavers tried to come back but ended up only scoring one run off of a single hit by Gage Axline. The Saints showed no mercy in the bottom of the third scoring six runs total. This started off with Spencer Sackett hitting a two run home run off the the scoreboard in left center. Following that was another two run home run by Bergdall scoring him and Kuhn making the score 9-2. The Beavers then change pitchers to Zach Courbat hoping to make a change and with a double by Allen and a single by Cade Ward it seems the Saints are not phased retiring the inning 11-2.

With the Saints bats on fire, the bottom of the fourth was just as hard hitting as the third scoring another five runs total. Bergdall doubled to right field earning his fourth RBI scoring Kuhn, then Shope with a sac fly scoring Caraballo. Madsen, Allen and Paul get RBI after Madsen singles to left field, Allen tripled to right center and Paul singled to left field ending the inning 16-2 at the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth Pratt tried to fight back and needing to score at least four runs to stay in the game and couldn’t do it. Elerie Rivera is the only to score with a solo home run to center field. Evans faced 22 batters and threw 79 pitches with 50 strikes and getting the win.

The Saints run ruled the game and won 16-3.

GAME TWO RECAP

Ryan Thomas (2-1) started on the mound and kept the Beavers scoreless until the fourth inning. The Saints were on the board within the first three batters, howver. Allen doubled to center field to start, followed by Caraballo reaching first on an error by shortstop then advanced to second on an overthrow, and finally Sackett grounded out to shortstop but scores Allen.

Pratts errors were Sewards gain as back to back Kuhn and Bergdall reached first on an error by third base and scored Caraballo then Kuhn. Following that Ben Tsui doubled to left center and scored Paul and Bergdall to end the inning with a 5-0 lead.

Thomas went three up three down in the top of the second inning with Pratt unable to get on base. Seward gained two more runs in the bottom of the second when Ward doubled to left center and scored Sackett and Caraballo making it a 7-0 game.

Pratt went three up, three down again unable to get anyone of base and as for the Saints, the bats were still on fire. Bergdall got on base with a single and Madsen got hit by pitch, then they both advance due to an error by the catcher. Saints then got a run off a balk as Bergdall scores. Allen then came up and singled up the middle scoring Madsen. The Saints then lead 9-0 going into the top of the fourth.

Right off the bat, Trace Maddux came up and hit a solo home run to put the Beavers on the board 9-1 but the next three to follow flied out, grounded out, and struck out looking. The Saints go scoreless in the fourth after a pitching change by the Beavers to Elijah Boyer.

The Beavers only earned one run in the fifth as the Saints earned eight. After being walked then advancing on a wild pitch, Allen scored by error by third base. Pratt brings in Luqman Ali to pitch. Ward comed up and hit a three run home run to deep right field clearing the bases with Sackett and Caraballo on. Kuhn then walked followed by Paul with a double then Bergdall singles through the left side scoring both Kuhn and Paul making it a 15-2 game.

Pratt then brings in position player Dawson Fultz to pitch for the Beavers. Caraballo back up to hit singles up the left side and scores Tsui and Bergdall and then ends the inning 17-2.

Top of the sixth and Pratt scored first on a ground out by Rivera and then on a double by Axline bringing the game to 17-4. Seward makes a pitching change and brings in Jordan Pepper to finish the half. Ward answered with a solo homerun to start Sewards rotation and later on Bergdall singled to center field and scores Paul making it a 19-4 game heading into the top of the seventh.

In order not to be run ruled again, the Beavers needed to score 5 run and fell short that inning and only scored 3 runs. The Saints mercy ruled the Beavers again and won 19-7 in the second game.

Next the Saints will face Clarendon College on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., in Clarendon, Texas.

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Ian Applegate