Three-run fifth gives Trojans first victory
Sports reporter
Jacob Edwards went 4-6 with an RBI Friday, as the Hillsboro Trojans began the season 1-1 with a two-game split with Wichita Collegiate.
The home Trojans won the first game 6-4, but fell in the nightcap, 13-5.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning of game one, Edwards led off with a single and started a rally that would lead to victory.
Two batters later Daniel Jost knocked in Edwards with an RBI-single, and two runs later the Trojans led 5-3.
Another single and stolen base for Edwards led to an insurance run in the sixth when Isaac Leihy knocked in the center fielder for a 6-3 lead.
The Spartans notched a run in the top of the seventh, but HHS still held on for its first victory of the season.
Devin Funk had two hits and one RBI, Edwards was 3-4 with an RBI and two runs, and Mitchell Koop had an RBI.
Leihy (1-0) went the distance on the mound giving up all four runs on nine hits, six strikeouts, and two walks.
Head coach Phil Oelke said Leihy had his change-up and fastball working in the first couple of innings, but it wasn't until he was throwing his curve for strikes did he start to take over.
"He got off to a rocky start but once he got into the third, he was in a groove," Oelke said of Leihy. "He competed really well. Overall I was really impressed with him."
The second game was a different story with Collegiate ending up on top by eight, but not before the Trojans made a game of it.
Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the third, the Trojans scored four runs with two outs to close the gap to two.
Delk and Aaron Bina contributed with RBI-singles in the inning.
However, the Spartans would score at least one run in every inning thereafter, including three in the fifth, to claim the victory.
Edwards (0-1) took the loss on the mound after going just 1 1/3 innings.
Matt Martin (2 1/3), Ethan Frantz (1 1/3), and Funk (2), all saw action on the mound.
Bina led the Trojan offense going 3-5 with an RBI and a run.
Leihy also added an RBI-single in the game.
While the offense and defense weren't bad, just three total errors in two games, the pitching in game two concerned Oelke.
"We're obviously going to have to do some work," he said. "Not just on throwing strikes, but containing runners as well."
Collegiate had nine stolen bases in game two.
However, Oelke liked the fact leadoff man Edwards reached base seven of nine plate appearances, thought Jost hit the ball well in the third hole, and liked the production from his eight and nine hitters Funk and Delk, who went 3-6 with an RBI in game one.
"If those guys can continue to get the bat on the ball, you can force people to make mistakes," Oelke said.
Which was true Friday when the Spartans made four errors in each game.
The Trojans played Tuesday against Nickerson, and have a road match-up Thursday against Marion.
