Trojans sweep Canton-Galva to snap four-game loss streak

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 24 April 2012 15:53

The bats finally came to life as the Hillsboro baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak Thursday with a 13-0, 16-2 sweep of Canton-Galva at Galva.

Nathan Unruh’s lead-off home run ignited an eight-run third inning in Game 2. The Trojans needed only three more hits—singles by Jakob Hanschu and Kale Arnold and a double by Derek Kelsey—the rest of the inning to complete the scoring. Hillsboro took advantage of three walks, two hit batters and an Eagle error.

The Trojans added five more runs in the fourth inning on the strength of doubles by Hanschu and Arnold and singles by Lucas Sinclair, Unruh and Kelsey.

Cody Delk (1-0) pitched all five innings of the run-rule game to register his first decision. He scattered four hits while striking out seven batters.

In Game 1, the Trojans took control with a six-run second inning. Micah Allen, Luke Moore, David Dick and Sinclair contributed singles to the outburst, which was aided by two walks and a hit batter.

A four-run third inning settled the issue as Hillsboro used singles by Allen, Jordan Faul, Arnold, Kelsey and Dick to fuel the surge.

David Nelson pitched all five innings for Hillsboro to earn his first win of the year against three losses. The senior allowed only two hits while striking out six and walking three.

Pratt—Hillsboro discovered why Pratt is the best team in the Central Kansas League and one of the top teams in Class 4A, dropping a doubleheader to the Greenbacks, 13-1, 3-1, April 17 at Memorial Field.

The Trojans challenged Pratt in Game 2 behind the pitching of Kale Arnold (2-10), who surrendered only three runs on five hits in a seven-inning complete game. He struck out 10 while walking four.

The visitors got one run in the first inning and one in the third before Hillsboro scored its lone run in the bottom of the third when Luke Moore singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scampered home on a Pratt error on a ball hit by Derek Kelsey.

Unfortunately, Hillsboro managed only three hits against Pratt starter P.J. Dean, who struck out 10 Trojans along the way.

The Greenbacks took control of Game 1 with a four-run second inning against pitcher Luke Moore (1-3) for a 5-0 lead. Moore allowed only one more run before giving up three in the fifth.

Pratt scored four more runs against freshman reliever Jakob Hanschu to end the game by run rule after six innings.

Seven errors by the Trojans didn’t help the cause; only six of the 13 Greenback runs were earned.

Hillsboro struggled against Pratt pitcher Jared Gilmore, who scattered four hits over six innings.

The Trojans scored their lone run in the third when Kelsey singled, then scored on Nathan Unruh’s double.

Coming—The Trojans have this week off, then will return to action May 1 when they host Haven for a doubleheader. The first game will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Memorial Field.