Staff writer
The Marion High School boys baseball team continued its torrid offensive onslaught Friday at Moundridge.
The Warriors won the first game, 5-4. Marion played small ball in the first three innings. Ethan Hett scored on an error in the second inning and David Helmer scored on a Taylor Heidebrecht ground out in the third inning.
The Warriors put together a 3-run fifth inning with a 2-RBI single by Grif Case and a fielder’s choice RBI by Austin Pedersen.
Although Moundridge made a comeback attempt, the Warriors clamped down, charged by a diving catch by Cole Lewman in right field.
Pedersen started the game. He pitched five innings and recorded four strikeouts, while surrendering four hits. Case pitched the final two innings, recording a strikeout and allowing one hit.
“I was very happy with the first game (tonight),” coach Roger Schroeder said. “That was our first close game.”
The Warriors would not have to worry about scratching out a win in the second contest. The Warriors won, 19-14. Marion put together 7 runs in the first two innings, which it capped with a 6-run third inning. The Warriors were up 13-5.
Helmer was 3-for-5 at the plate with 5 RBIs. Dylan Seacat went 3-for-6 with 3 runs. Pedersen went 1-for-3 with 3 RBI. Case went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI.
However, no one has been hotter than outfielder Lewman. Lewman was 4-for-6 in the second game against Moundridge; he was a homerun away from the cycle. Combining both games, Lewman hit .666 on Friday. Lewman is 9-for-14 on the season, a .642 batting average.
As an example of Lewman’s focus, he completely guessed wrong in his last at-bat and still got a hit. Looking fastball all the way, Lewman started his swing before he realized a breaking ball was heading toward the plate. Lewman was able to adjust by swinging down on the pitch and lift the ball over the shortstop’s head for a single.
“I’ve worked a lot on batting in practice,” Lewman said. “I’ve changed bat speed. It’s coming to me.”
Equally impressive in the Warriors’ 4-0 start is that the Warriors have scored 54 runs in four games with freshmen and sophomores in key positions.
As a junior, Lewman is an elder statesman for the Warriors, freshman Heidebrecht has started every game in left and hit at the top of the lineup. Freshman Case started in right field the past three games and is hitting sixth behind junior Helmer. Freshman Luke Steele and Caleb Williams have split time at third — Williams also caught the first two games — and are hitting in the back end of the lineup.
Sophomore Seacat is the starting shortstop and has hit in the two hole through the first four games. Pedersen and Hett are the Warriors primary pitchers as sophomores. When not on the mound, Pedersen plays in center field; Hett started at second base in the first game Friday. Pedersen has also hit cleanup and taken advantage of his opportunities to drive in Warriors on base.
“Everybody has hit and everybody has scored,” Lewman said. “It’s a new stage and they’re stepping up.”
“We’ve had a very good approach at the plate. They’ve only done what they needed to do — they’re not trying to do too much,” Schroeder said. “That’s a good ball club we beat tonight. If we stay within ourselves, we can beat anyone.”