The Hillsboro High School baseball team continues to work hard to improve their record. They played two days last week and were able to secure several wins. The played in Hillsboro on Tuesday and then traveled to Remington on Thursday.
The Hillsboro Trojans snatched the lead late in the game in a 10-5 victory over Halstead. Hillsboro was down 4-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jorge Hanschu doubled on the first pitch at bat, scoring two runs.
Hillsboro earned the victory despite allowing Halstead to score three runs in the second inning. Brooks Gardner earned the win for Hillsboro. He lasted five innings, allowing two hits and five runs while striking out nine.
Caleb Potucek threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Potucek recorded the last six outs to earn the save for Hillsboro. Hillsboro racked up 11 hits in the game.
Matt Potucek, Hunter Hein and Jaxxon Hanschu all managed multiple hits for Hillsboro with Hein and Matt Potucek managing three hits to lead Hillsboro.
For the second game, Hillsboro Trojans varsity tied things up at two in the bottom of the third inning. Hunter Hein singled scoring one run. Hillsboro pulled away for good with two runs in the fourth inning.
In that same inning, Matt Potucek drew a walk scoring one run and Hein also drew a walk scoring one run. Hillsboro tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning. Batters contributing to the big inning included Matt Potucek and Landon Roberts all driving in runs in the frame.
Roberts led Hillsboro to victory on the hill. He allowed five hits and three runs over six and a third innings, striking out four. Caleb Potucek threw two thirds of an innng in relief out of the bullpen. Hillsboro racked up eight hits in the game. Jess Philpott and Matt Potucek all managed multiple hits for Hillsboro.
“We continue to pitch extremely well. Brooks Gardner didn’t have his best stuff today but he battled and competed for five innings. Caleb Potucek is the guy I go to when I need outs and he did exactly that.,” said Head Coach Tyson Kendrick. “In game 2, Landon Roberts looked good with a lot of confidence and great tempo. If we continue to pitch and play defense the way we have we will find ourselves competitive in a lot of games. We have to continue to do the little things right and continue improving.”
Remington – The Hillsboro baseball team played at Remington on Thursday. They won the first game 11-1.
Hillsboro fired up the offense in the first inning when Gardner grounded into a double play but still managed to knock in one run. Hillsboro pulled away for good with one run in the second inning on an error by Remington.
The Trojans tallied four runs in the fifth inning. Philip Young, Caleb Potucek, Matt Potucek and Gardner all had RBI’s in the frame.
Matt Potucek was the winning pitcher for Hillsboro. He went five innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out four and walking one.
Alex Caldwell threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Caleb Potucek, Matt Potucek, and Landon Roberts all managed multiple hits for Hillsboro.
For the second game, Hillsboro fought back after falling down by five runs in the fourth inning. The comeback fell just short though in a 6-8 defeat to Remington. Despite the loss, Hillsboro did collect eight hits in the high scoring affair.
Unfortunately, Remington had ten hits on the way to victory. Jack Parks took the loss for Hillsboro. He lasted one and one-third innings, allowing one hit and one run while striking out one. Matt Potucek and Hunter Hein each had multiple hits for Hillsboro.
“Obviously a split was not the outcome that we were hoping for. We have to do a better job as a coaching staff of getting our players ready offensively,” said Kendrick. “We have relayed on our pitching and defense so far this year which isn’t a bad thing we just need to get our lineup where they feel comfortable at the plate.”zComing Up – The boys played at Larned on Tuesday. They will play Hoisington at home at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
