By NICHOLAS KIMBALL

Staff writer

With other county teams struggling for victories, Marion’s boys baseball team is on a four-game winning streak, sporting a 9-3 season record, with the second half of the season left to go.

The Warriors played against Remington at home Friday in a makeup game that was postponed earlier in the season because of weather. The Warriors won both games, 16-6 and 8-2, to extend their streak.

“We are starting to turn a corner offensively, which is a very positive sign,” coach Roger Schroeder said. “Need to continue to clean some things up on the defensive end to help our pitchers be a little more efficient.”

Gavin Wasmuth and Cooper Bailey were the winning pitchers in Friday’s games.

“Our arms on the mound are doing a good job as they have all year for the most part, and we are beginning to get guys stretched out a little more as well,” Schroeder said.

Jack Lanning had four hits and touched home plate four times between the two games. Wasmuth led the team with six hits total in the doubleheader.

The Warriors will be in action this Friday at home playing Ell-Saline.

Marion softball

Despite a few stretches of competitive innings Friday against Sterling, the Warriors were unable to win, losing 22-2 and 19-4.

“Mental errors that generated runs were our downfall against this doubleheader against Sterling,” coach Jerry Mendoza said. “That combined with the quieting of our bats put us in a hole early in the first game that we could not get out of.”

The second game was much more competitive than the 19-4 score suggests, with Marion leading 4-2 in the first five innings.

“We showed hustle and battle that are very encouraging for the remainder of the season,
Mendoza said. “I feel like both our pitchers battled very well and were able to get themselves out of situations that could have been worse. I know this team can bounce back and turn the season around.”

The Lady Warriors will play a stand-alone game at home Thursday against Minneapolis and then join the boys Friday to play against Ell-Saline.

Hillsboro softball

The Trojans traveled to Halstead on Friday but lost both games, 12-0 and 13-3.

Hillsboro has been struggling with injuries to key players this season, and the coaching staff has had to figure out how to play without them.

“Fortunately, there are girls who are stepping up into the roles that we need,” coach Alyssa Kroeker said.

Cheyanne Plenert stepped in as the No. 1 pitcher.

“She has been working so hard to meet the needs of the team,” Kroeker said.

Hailey Miller and Brooklyn Thiessen backed Plenert up as pitchers. Abby Beavers had two hits and two runs scored in the second game against Halstead. Keitra Edwards had two hits of her own.

The third run in the second game was scored by Cassidy Bernhardt, who was on base after getting hit by a pitch.

“We started four freshmen in vital positions (pitcher, shortstop, center field, third base) so we are young and still learning,” Kroeker said.

The Trojans will travel to Hoisington Friday.

Hillsboro baseball

The Hillsboro boys also dropped two Friday against Halstead, losing 15-5 and 11-0.

Nash Dickinson led the team with three hits, driving in three runs. Dickinson, Zander Haslett, and Kyson Gawith all pitched.

The Trojans will travel Friday with the girls to Hoisington or their next game of the season.