The Hillsboro High School baseball team lost both games to Wichita Collegiate Thursday in Hillsboro.

Hillsboro lost the first game, 19-1.

The Trojans led the Spartans 1-0 through two innings in game one and Hillsboro ace pitcher Jacob Edwards seemed to at the top of his game— he was the hardest thrower in the game against one of the best baseball teams in 3A.

The Spartans started to chip away at Edwards in the second by tying the score. Then Edwards faced the type of inning that all pitchers dread.

He walked the first batter to start the fourth. The second batter reached base on an error. Edwards picked off the runner at first with an Andy Pettite-like move. But, another Hillsboro error made it first and third with one out. The next Collegiate batter hit a soft fly ball that landed over third baseman Dylan Delk’s outstretched glove that scored two Spartan runs.

Edwards walked the next batter, there was another error, and then Edwards walked the following hitter. With the bases loaded, Edwards got a Collegiate batter to pop out to center fielder Matt Martin. But, the Spartans’ damage was not done. The next hitter lined a single between second and first to score two runs. Edwards struck out the final batter of the inning, but a 1-1 tie had turned into a 7-1 Wichita Collegiate lead.

“I was disgusted by the number of errors,” Hillsboro Head Coach Doug Dick said.

Like a snowball rolling down a mountain, the problems continued to avalanche on top of the Trojans. After being taxed by such a long inning, Edwards left the mound soon after the fourth.

“He throws so hard,” Dick said of Edwards. “He was up in the 80s (pitch count) the first game out.”

The Spartans continued to pile runs on top of the Hillsboro relievers, including seven runs in the seventh inning.

The second game went much better for Hillsboro although the outcome was still a 9-4 loss.

Dick took the accountability for the defensive miscues in the first game, saying he pigeonholed players into positions.

“I just need to revaluate everything,” Dick said.

Players were moved around to different positions. Ben Gardner who started the first game at shortstop thrived at third base in the second game. Gardner also had a reawakening at the plate. He tied the game at three in the early innings with an RBI single.

“I moved him third down in the lineup,” Dick said. “I move him in the lineup and he starts to hit. I move him to third and he stops making errors.”

Tyler Ediger — who started the first game at first base — was one of the Hillsboro players to see time at short.

“He’s an athlete,” Dick said. “He’s quicker than he looks.”

Edwards played first base in the second game. He had been playing outfield because of his strong throwing arm.

“He’s a natural first baseman,” Dick said.

Dick was encouraged by the Trojan’s offensive effort. He highlighted the hitting nights of Derek Kelsey and Jacob Fish. He summarized the team’s night as hitting the ball hard but right at people.

Dick was also pleased with the pitching of Delk in the second game because he consistently threw strikes.

Little River

The Trojans played a doubleheader with Little River March 30. Hillsboro lost the first game, 11-8. The Trojans jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning but were unable to muster any more runs until the final period.

The Trojans won the second game, 11-1.

stats

Game 1: pitchers: Ediger ND 2.2 IP, 6 K, 5 BB, 8 H, 8 ERs; Martens: L 3.1 IP, 4 BB 1 H, 1 ER; Gardner: ND 1 IP, 1 K, 1 BB,

Game 2: pitcher: Kale Arnold: W, CG, 5 IP, 6 K, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB

Game 1: Hitting

Edwards: 0-2, 2 BB

Fish: 3-4, 2B, 1B, SB, 2 RBI

Gardner: 0-5

Ediger: 1-2,2B, SB, 1R

Aaron Bina: 1-3, 1B, 1 BB, 1R

Luke Moore: 0-0, BB, SB, 1 SAC

Delk: 1-3, 2 R, SB

Devin Funk: 0-3 1 BB, 1 R

Game 2:

Edwards: 0-2, 1 BB, SB, R

Fish: 0-3, 1 BB

Bina: 2-4, 2 R, 2 SB, 2 1B

Ediger: 1-3, 2B, SB

Moore: 1-2, 1B, SB, 1 RBI, BB, 2 R

Sinclair: 0-0 1 BB, SB

Delk: 2-2 2 1B, SB, 2 BB, 2 R

Gardner: 1-2, 1B, 1 RBI, 2 R

Kelsey: 0-0 SAC, 2 BB

Funk: 1-1, 1B, 2 RBI, 2 BB