By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Hayden sophomore pitcher Cooper Grace started last Friday's second game at Washburn Rural, then had to wait until Monday to finish the job.
Hayden sophomore Cooper Grace finished off a complete-game pitching victory Monday at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
He did so with hardly a bump, taking advantage of the Wildcats' huge offensive day to close out a 15-4 Centennial League win and a doubleheader sweep over the Junior Blues.
"You get a good routine going, good arm care, and it keeps me fresh,'' Grace said. "I'm never really sore ever and it helps a lot having a team behind me that helps me.''
In fact, the delayed second game still didn't go the full seven innings, with Hayden (8-3 overall, 4-2 in the league) ending things after the fifth due to the 10-run spread rule.
After Hayden rallied for a 4-3 win in last Friday's first game, the second game was tied at 2-2 in the top of the third inning before lightning pushed the completion of the nightcap back to Monday.
Obviously Bill Arnold would have liked to have finished off the twinbill on Friday, but understood the postponement.
"I thought we were in a pretty good groove and Cooper was in a really good groove pitching the other day, but those are situations you don't have any control over so there's no reason to worry about spilled milk out of that deal,'' Arnold said. "My big deal was to come out today and compete right off the bat.''
Hayden quickly took control, scoring five runs in the top of the third to open up a 7-2 lead and adding three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth.
"That's always great,'' Grace said of Hayden's offensive display. "Everybody hits.''
"We hit the ball well today,'' Arnold said. "I told them this is about the best I've seen one of our teams hit in a long time.''
Washburn Rural (2-8, 2-4) scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth but Grace was able to close out the 11-run decision.
Grace allowed five hits while striking out seven.
Hayden had 13 total hits in the second game, including three hits from senior Konnor Becker, two hits, including a double, and three runs scored for Grace and senior Braydn Rose, a triple from sophomore Brady Heinen and a double from senior Dylan Foster.
Hayden baseball coach Bill Arnold talks to his Wildcats after Monday's 15-4 win at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We're playing hot right now and we need to keep that up,'' Grace said. "I think we've got a great team this year and I think we have a really good chance to do something special.''
Senior Ty Weber hit a home run for Washburn Rural in the first inning of the second game on Friday while junior Kyle Walker had two triples in the game, one on Friday and one in Monday's completion.
SECOND GAME (Completion)
HAYDEN 15, WASHBURN RURAL 4 (5 innings)
Hayden 205 35 -- 15 13 1
Washburn Rural 200 02 -- 4 5 2
W -- Grace. L -- M. Bettis. 2B -- Hayden: Grace, Rose, Foster. 3B -- Hayden: Heinen. Washburn Rural: Walker 2. HR -- Washburn Rural: Weber.
