Class 1A No. 4 Lynnville-Sully blanks PCM in non-conference battle

SULLY — Both baseball teams from Lynnville-Sully and PCM played five games this week. But the big difference in the two schedules favored the Class 1A No. 4 Hawks.

The Mustangs played five games last week and did not have a night off this past week so pitching was limited against a Lynnville-Sully squad which is scoring more than 10 runs per game in June.

The Hawks also used one of their top arms against PCM and the end result was a 12-0, five-inning non-conference home win on Tuesday.

“We knew their top guys weren’t available to pitch, but at the same time we knew they’d come out and swing the bats,” L-S head baseball coach Scott Alberts said. “That’s a very good squad. The fact that we held them to a goose egg is a big deal. It speaks volumes about our pitchers and the defense.”

Lynnville-Sully (18-0) used a seven-run first inning to gain an early advantage and Conner Maston did the rest on the mound.

Maston allowed just two hits and recorded all 11 of his outs by himself as he fanned 10 and walked four in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

“I thought I did a good job getting the fastball in for strikes,” Maston said. “The zone was picky and it was tight early. I walked too many, but I used a good mix. I kept them off balance with the fastball and curve ball.”

Gavin Fenton doubled in the third and Gabe Hobbs reached on an infield single in the fourth, but those were the only hits for PCM, which also drew five walks.

Maston, whose fastball was clocked at 92 miles per hour in the offseason, pitched out of trouble in the first, third and fourth innings.

Back-to-back two-out walks by Easton Webb and Trigg Steenhoek in the first frame went for nothing as Maston struck out the side to get out of the jam.

In the third, Maston started with a strikeout, but Fenton doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Nick Farver then walked and went to second on a fielder’s indifference.

Maston got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

“That’s the hardest we’ve seen all year,” PCM head baseball coach Lewis Daye said about Maston’s speed. “I think we can handle good pitching, but someone who throws 90 is tough. He’s really good.”

Maston started the fourth and recorded two more strikeouts. But not before allowing a lead-off infield single to Hobbs and a walk to Will Owens.

The Hawk senior was pulled with two outs in the fourth because Alberts wanted him to be available to pitch in a doubleheader against 2A No. 9 West Marshall on Saturday.

Carson Maston ended the fourth with a strikeout and fanned two more in the fifth. He didn’t allow a hit or a run but walked one in 1 1/3 innings.

The Hawks only played two conference games this week so Alberts was able to use the Maston brothers against a pair of 2A non-conference opponents. They also did not have games on Wednesday or Thursday.

“It was Conner’s turn in the rotation and we want to make sure they get innings,” Alberts said. “I was either going to throw Conner last night or tonight. I ended up giving Lucas (Sieck) the conference game.

“Conner was commanding his pitches. I have a ton of respect for PCM. They have won some big games this year already and we knew they’d swing the bats hard. I was excited to see that matchup, and I thought he did a nice job.”

Farver led PCM with two walks, but the Mustang bats struck out 13 times in the loss.

After five games the week before and a conference matchup with Saydel the night before, PCM’s top two pitchers were not available.

The Mustangs used three arms to get through the four L-S at-bats.

L-S sent 11 batters to the plate in the first and scored seven runs.

Against Mustang starting pitcher Jacob Wendt, Corder Noun Harder doubled and Lannon Montgomery and Conner Maston followed with back-to-back singles.

Noun Harder eventually scored on a throwing error to third base and then Bryce Richards walked to load the bases.

Caleb Rea’s RBI sacrifice fly ball made it 2-0. The Hawks then scored five times with two outs. A two-run single by Blake Van Wyk, an RBI double by Reese Dunsbergen, an RBI single by Lucas Sieck and a run-scoring double by Noun Harder capped the frame.

“It was a huge start. Good defense can set up good offense and we got after it quick,” Conner Maston said. “We’ve started games strong this year, but I don’t think we’ve done anything like that.”

The Hawks scored once in the second without getting a hit. Richards walked again and then stole second and third base. He scored on Rea’s RBI ground out.

In the third, L-S scored two runs without getting a hit. Van Wyk, Dunsbergen, Sieck and Montgomery all walked. Van Wyk scored on a wild pitch and Conner Maston’s RBI sacrifice fly accounted for the second run.

The two-run fourth featured a double by Carson Maston and a single by Sieck. Dunsbergen’s RBI ground out got the first run in and a two-out error on a fly ball to left field by Noun Harder made it 12-0.

“Our batters are seeing the ball as well as we’ve ever seen it,” Alberts said. “I’m excited about how well we are swinging it. Our approach at the plate has been on point. They are not chasing pitches at all. It’s fun to see the discipline they bring to the plate.”

Wendt took the loss on the mound after allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and one walk in one inning. He struck out one.

Kaleb DeVries allowed three earned runs on six walks in 1 1/3 innings and Owens surrendered two runs — one earned — on two hits and one walk in 1 2/3 innings.

“We are still recovering from last week’s schedule,” Daye said. “We are just dealing with the cards we have been dealt. It’s a tough stretch.

“It’s hard to navigate through the pitching right now. The guys we used tonight did a good job.”

Noun Harder finished with two doubles, one run and one steal, Van Wyk added one hit, two runs, two RBIs and one walk and Dunsbergen doubled, scored one run, had two RBIs and walked once.

Richards drew three walks, scored two runs and stole two bases, Sieck added two hits, one walk, one run and one RBI and Montgomery chipped in one hit, one walk, one run and one steal.

Conner Maston had one hit and one RBI, Carson Maston doubled and walked once, Rea contributed two RBIs and C.J. Nikkel scored two runs. Samuel Philby crossed home plate once.

The Hawks are now 18-0 on the season. Since June 1, L-S is 10-0 and has outscored its opponents 112-9.