By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
After having a handful of miscues in Friday's 4-1 first-game loss to Wichita Heights, Topeka High's baseball team cleaned its mess up in the second game of the doubleheader, winning 4-2 at Hummer Sports Park.
Topeka High senior Ty Votaw earned the pitching win in the Trojans' 4-2 second-game decision over Wichita Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High junior Matt Genrich makes a defensive play in Friday's twinbill against Wichita Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Nate Plankinton ducks out of the way of an inside pitch in Friday's Topeka High twinbill against Wichita Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High’s schedule was tweaked going into the twinbill with Wichita Heights. Initially, the twinbill was scheduled for 4 p.m., but with the upcoming Easter holiday weekend, the doubleheader was bumped up to an early afternoon slot.
Topeka High coach Cody Miller is pleased with how the day ended for his squad but was surprised with the shortage of energy from the day off.
“I don’t know if it was the day off from school, but we weren’t locked in the way we usually are today,” Miller said. “The energy levels throughout the day weren’t great. But Nate (Plankinton) and Ty (Votaw) pitched great today against a good team that can hit it. So hopefully, we will pick it up going forward.”
Outside of a couple of blemishes against Manhattan and a loss from Wichita Heights, Topeka High (5-3) is playing solid baseball right now. With baseball being a game of hot and cold, the Trojans take advantage of many opportunities in crucial situations.
In addition, the hot start is essential for many reasons.
With the Centennial League taking a hit from departing schools this year, Topeka High will play more unfamiliar opponents. As a result, wins will be more onerous but sweet when they get them.
“If you would’ve told me before the year that we would be 5-3 at this point, I would have definitely taken it,” Miller said. “We have a tough schedule here. I think we are getting a bit of a midseason slump right now. But I thought we were fortunate to get that second (game) today. I look forward to picking up the energy and moving forward.”
In the 4-1 loss in the first game, Topeka High got a well-pitched game from junior Nate Plankinton. The righty didn’t give up a run until the seventh inning. Then, with 100 pitches delivered, Plankinton struck out eight batters, including a streak where he struck out five Falcons in a row.
Two runs in the sixth from the middle of the order and two runs in the seventh innings from the top of the order were enough for Wichita Heights to pull out the win.
Topeka High’s bats struggled in Game 1 against Wichita Heights junior pitcher Taylor Blaine.
The Trojans did earn five hits but drove in just a run.
Game 2 was a much better story for Topeka High in the field and at the plate.
Good pitching is important, and senior right-hander Ty Votaw provided a high-quality performance for the Trojans.
In nearly six innings of work on the mound, Votaw fanned four batters while giving up just three hits before Peyton Whead came on to pitch for the Trojans.
Topeka High didn’t have a smooth defensive performance, but Votaw provided a boost. The Trojans gave up five defensive errors but gave up just a pair of runs.
“Both guys (Votaw and Wheat) did a really good job of throwing strikes,” Miller said. “Ty always does a really good job of pounding the zone and giving our defense a chance. Today I was worried about it because we had so many errors. Ty does a really good job, and his fastball sneaks up on people. I think his motion is kind of slow, so his fastball is sneaky.”
Topeka High struck first offensively. Junior Isaiah Kincade got a leadoff single and stole a base in the top of the first inning. Then, senior Elijah Kincade brought I. Kincade home with an RBI single, giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Wichita Heights tied the game up in the top of the third from a Cale Mileson RBI single. But the tie didn’t last long.
Plankinton would bring home E. Kincade and Votaw off of his two-run single with the bases loaded.
Topeka High would have a couple more baserunners on the paths but couldn’t bring them home, leaving the Trojans with a 3-1 lead to end the third inning.
An inning later, Votaw would repay the favor at the plate with an RBI double, sending junior Matthew Genrich home. As a result, Topeka High would earn a 4-1 advantage heading to the fifth inning.
Wichita Heights would have plenty of traffic in the fifth and sixth innings but limited the damage with just one run. Wheat replaced Votaw on the mound in the sixth inning and got the Trojans out of a jam.
With an inning to go, Topeka High was holding on to a 4-2 lead.
Wheat earned the save by keeping Wichita Heights off the board
Topeka High will host Emporia for a Centennial League doubleheader next Friday at Hummer Sports Park.
GAME ONE
WICHITA HEIGHTS 4, TOPEKA HIGH 1
Wichita Heights 000 002 2 – 4 6 1
Topeka High 000 100 0 – 1 5 1
W – Blaine. L – Plankinton. 2B – Wichita Heights: Ellison, Cross, Thornton.
GAME TWO
TOPEKA HIGH 4, WICHITA HEIGHTS 2
Wichita Heights (4-3) 001 001 0 – 2 4 1
Topeka High (5-3) 102 100 x – 4 6 5
W – Votaw. L – Thornton. S – Wheat. 2B – Topeka High: Votaw.
