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Washburn baseball uses big innings to knock off No. 2-ranked Central Missouri, 14-7
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball used a pair of big innings to down No. 2-ranked Central Missouri 14-7 on Wednesday night.
Jett Buck hit two home runs and drove in four runs in Washburn's 14-7 win over No. 2-ranked Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods hit the road to face Emporia State for three games beginning Friday at 5 p.m.
Neither Central Missouri or Washburn got on the board in a scoreless first inning, but it was the Mules (25-9 overall, 16-6 MIAA) that struck first in the second, with a home run following a two-out walk to make it 2-0.
Washburn (19-19, 12-13) responded right away as Jett Buck led off the home half of the second with a home run to left.
An error in the field and a hit batter extended the inning, allowing Blake Scott to plate one run with a single to left before Jackson Mervosh hit the second Ichabod home run over the wall in left field to make it 5-2 after two.
A leadoff walk for the Mules in the top of the third came around to score on a double. Central Missouri pulled within one as a wild pitch plated another run.
After a scoreless top of the fourth by Griffin Huiatt the Ichabods loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on a single from B. Scott, a double from Connor Scott and a walk by Mervosh.
Hayden Priest brought one run in with a fielder's choice grounder to go up 6-4.
In the sixth inning, three walks along with a double scored a pair of runs for the Mules, tying the game.
Washburn answered right away, with five of the first six hitters all reaching base, scoring two runs on doubles from Priest and C. Scott. One run scored on a wild pitch before Buck blasted his second home run of the game, breaking the game open with a 12-6 lead.
Seaman baseball rallies late to earn split with Washburn Rural
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, Seaman baseball coach Trent Oliva would have preferred a sweep in Tuesday's home non-league doubleheader against city rival Washburn Rural.
Junior Cooper Hayes was the second-game starting pitcher and drove in the winning run in Tuesday's 3-2 Seaman win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But after the Vikings fell to the Junior Blues in the opener and trailed with just two at bats remaining in the nightcap, a split looked pretty good to the Seaman coach.
Washburn Rural never trailed in the first game en route to an 8-4 win and led 2-1 through five and a half innings before Seaman tied the game with a run in the sixth and took a walkoff 3-2 win in the seventh.
The Vikings knotted the game on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt from junior Caeden Cooper in the sixth and then ended the game in the seventh on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from junior Cooper Hayes.
Max Huston was hit by a pitch to open the seventh before David Dobbs moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. After Axton Brewer was walked intentionally, Cale Rosenberger singled to load the bases before Hayes got the winning run home with a fly to center.
"We found a way to win and did some good things late -- Caeden Cooper getting the suicide squeeze down in the sixth and then in the seventh inning Max did a good job as the leadoff man getting on for us and then Dobbs getting a bunt down and forcing their hand to put Brewer on,'' Oliva said.
"Cale Rosenberger has two strikes and hits the ball hard up the middle and then Cooper Hayes has two strikes and battles and fouls three or four pitches off and is able to hit one deep enough to score Max from third. We did just enough and it's better than losing.''
Silver Lake christens new baseball, softball fields against War on 24 rival Rossville
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Silver Lake USD 372 christened new fields for baseball and softball Monday with a ribbon cutting followed by simultaneous doubleheaders with rival Rossville.
Silver Lake USD 372 school board president Jason Seele (second from left) cuts the ribbon dedicating Silver Lake's new baseball and softball complex Tuesday in Silver Lake. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
The Eagles swept the softball set, highlighted by senior pitcher Kendra Cook’s no-hitter. The baseball teams split their twin bill.
The fields are the latest result of a 2023 $16. million bond issue that is also producing new throwing facilities for track and field and a new weight room as well as a number of other projects within the district.
School children and members of the community – including former players and coaches – were on hand to witness the beginning of a new chapter for Silver Lake baseball and softball.
“Silver Lake has a long and storied tradition of excellence in softball and baseball,” school board president Jason Seele said during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “Our programs have built a legacy of hard work, discipline and success, earning championships, developing outstanding student-athletes and instilling values that last far beyond the playing field. This new facility is not just a place to play. It is a testament to that legacy and a promise to that future.”
Situated between the adjoining fields, which lie to the east of the grade school building, are restrooms and a concession stand. The complex – which cost about $4.5 million – was constructed by Meriden-based Mammoth Sports Construction, which installed the Silver Lake turf football field in 2021.
Seele said a committee of about 30 people, including current and former coaches, worked to gather information and help Mammoth design the facility. Design of the complex began in February of 2024. Mammoth broke ground on the fields in April and completed construction in December of last year.
“They had a vision for what they wanted this to look like and they were there every step of the way to bring this to life,” said Connor Harris, Director of Project Management for Mammoth. “I think they’re going to love it. I can’t wait to see what they do to continue the rich traditions that they have with this new facility.”
Throwing out ceremonial first pitches on the softball field were former player and coach Kathy Mohler Harrington and former player Megan Deiter. First pitches on the baseball field were thrown by former player and coach Alan Cunningham and Samuel Burton, representing relative Mike Burton and family.
Silver Lake senior pitcher Logan Cathcart notched a complete-game victory in Monday's 3-0 win over Rossville. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior shortstop and pitcher Logan Cathcart relishes the chance to play on the all-turf surface after spending three seasons on the school’s dirt field.
“This field is just a complete change and it's great,” Cathcart said. “We practiced hard and got in a lot of reps just to get used to (the dirt field) we had before, just to play the best baseball you can with what you’ve got. But it’s awesome to get perfect hops every time and the first baseman can really help you because he gets perfect hops to scoop.”
Cathcart spun a complete-game 3-0 shutout in the opener on the baseball field.
The second game was sent to extra innings when Rossville errors permitted Silver Lake to tie the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Rossville junior Cameron Miller scored the go-ahead run in the Bulldawgs' second-game baseball win over Silver Lake Monday in Silver Lake. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But Rossville junior Cameron Miller picked up the visitors when he reached base on a hit-by-pitch and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the top of the 10th inning.
