GAWER POWER. Drake Gawer tallied three hits, a run and a RBI in Sullivan’s 11-1 victory over Hermann. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
KING OF THE HILL. Dayton Skaggs made his pitching debut for Sullivan against Hermann on Tuesday, Apr. 2. He stayed on the mound for three innings, striking out two and only giving up two hits and a walk. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
RIP IT. Leadoff batter Gavin Schmidt ripped a fly ball to set the tone for Sullivan. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
GOOD JOB. The Eagles high-five each other after stomping out Hermann 11-1 on Tuesday, Apr. 2. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
MVP. Mitchell Garner holds the Most Valuable Player belt on his shoulder after playing a crucial role in Sullivan’s 11-1 sweeping of the Bearcats on Tuesday, Apr. 2. He racked up 3 RBIs, 3 hits and 2 runs. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
CHASE BLUE prepares to throw the ball. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
CHANGE OF PLAN. Catcher Dayton Skaggs talks to pitcher Cambrian Koch in the infield. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
Eagles Baseball Shows No Mercy To Hermann Bearcats In 11-1 Win
The Eagles (6-2) returned home to sweep Hermann (5-4) 11-1 on Tuesday, Apr. 2. The game lasted until the bottom of the 5th, when the game ended by mercy rule.
Head coach Ian Whitson awarded Mitchell Garner the Most Valuable Player belt, who recorded 3 RBIs, three hits and two runs against the Bearcats. “He’s [been] hammering the ball lately. You know, for him, he’s just going out, seeing [the] ball, hitting [the] ball, having a really simple approach,” Whitson said.
Chase Blue held a team-high three runs. He also racked up two hits and an RBI.
Drake Gawer launched three hits, a run and an RBI.
Cambrian Koch tallied two runs, an RBI and a hit.
Lucas Parsons and Seth Valley grabbed an RBI, a hit and a walk.
Gavin Schmidt collected a run and a hit.
Raiden Redd and Kaden Smith both ran home once.
Dayton Skaggs made a hit, and Nolan Ulrich had a walk.
With 28 at-bat appearances, the Eagles tallied 13 hits, 11 runs, 8 RBIs and three walks.
Coach Whitson also praised his pitching rotation, Grant Halmick, Skaggs and Koch, for their explosiveness on the mound. “Last several games, we’ve struggled, especially early in the count, as far as throwing strikes, you know, really filling it up from the pitching aspect,” he stated. “[Against Hermann], we went out there and we attacked. Grant set the tone there at the very beginning in the first inning. He went out there and shoved it. Dayton came in right behind him, he’s able to throw strikes. And Cam came in and shut the door.”
At the top of the 1st, Halmick came in hot on the mound with a strikeout, and third baseman Blue finished the Bearcats by catching two outs.
Skaggs relieved Halmick of his pitching duties on the mound and stayed on the hill for three innings. In his pitching debut, he struck out two and only gave up two hits and a walk.
Koch came on the mound for the Eagles during Hermann’s last chance at bat. He struck out two while surrendering a hit and a run.