Staff writer
The Marion High School baseball team lost both games to undefeated Ell-Saline Friday in Salina, 12-10 and 13-3.
The Warriors fell behind 12-5 after committing three errors in the third inning of game one behind pitcher Jacob Harper. Harper was relieved by Ethan Hett after acquiring one out in the third. Harper surrendered 9 runs, six earned on seven hits. Hett stepped in and allowed 3 runs, two earned, while striking out four.
Coach Roger Schroeder was pleased with the way Hett threw in relief in the first game. The sophomore hurler is leading the Warriors with 32 innings pitched this season and it appeared to Schroeder that Hett looked stronger against Ell-Saline than he did against Sedgwick two starts earlier.
“I don’t think he was tired,” Schroeder said. “He had trouble throwing his breaking ball for a strike. The last two times out he’s been better with the breaking ball.”
Hett was also one of the leading Warrior hitters in their comeback attempt. Marion strung together 14 hits in the second game. Matt Sprowls went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI. Hett went 2-for-4 with a run. Cole Lewman went 2-for-5 with 2 runs and an RBI. Luke Steele went 1-for-4 with 2 runs. David Helmer went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Taylor Heidebrecht went 1-for-5 with 3 runs scored.
They scored five runs, and by the bottom of the seventh, the Warriors had runners at third and second base before succumbing to the Cardinal pitcher and losing, 12-10.
“I was proud of the way they fought back,” Schroeder said. “We just strung together a couple of good at bats. You can’t ask for much more than that.”
The Warriors did not have as much luck at the plate in the second game. They faced a powerful lefthander who located his fastball and used a tight breaking ball to routinely get Marion hitters to swing and miss. The Cardinal pitcher threw six innings, striking out 10 and only walking one Warrior.
“We let him get into a rhythm; he worked fast, and this kid tore us a part,” Schroeder said.
Austin Pedersen started on the mound for the Warriors in the second game. He gave up 12 runs, nine earned, while striking out three and walking four hitters.
“On Friday, he was too concerned with getting the ball over the plate and he was choking off some velocity,” Schroeder said of Pedersen.
Marion put together five hits in the second game. Heidebrecht went 2-for-2 with two runs. Lewman went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Ell-Saline hitters took advantage of a strong wind to hit 4 home runs in two games.
With the wins, Ell-Saline is 14-0 for the season. It was the first time Marion lost both games in a doubleheader this season.
“I wasn’t disappointed with our effort,” Schroeder said. “There’s no reason to sulk about losing two games. We just need to get back on track.”