Baseball: Marion defeats Wildcats in double header
Eric Clark
Sports Editor
The question hasn't been whether or not things would ever get better for the Marion High School baseball team this season.
The real question has been when would things get better.
After two wins over Moundridge Saturday, things are looking brighter for the Warriors, who have been riddled by errors.
"It is strange that our kids make the plays in practice, but when it comes time to play in the games, we are finding it hard to make the plays," head coach Sean Spoonts said. "That is why it is a sport. No one knows why certain things happen. A few plays here and there make a big difference. We will start to make those plays."
In game one of the double header with the Wildcats, the Warriors used a five inning nine-run surge to coast past Moundridge 10-6, despite committing five errors in the contest.
Marion jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Warriors and Wildcats were unable to score in innings two and three. But in the fourth inning, Moundridge snared their first run of the game knotting the score at one.
In the fifth inning, the Wildcats picked up were they left off scoring five runs on several miss played balls by the Warriors.
Things looked bleak initially for the Warriors, but in the bottom of the fifth inning, Marion strung together a series of runs to take a 10-6 advantage, the eventual game-ending score.
Mitch Enos pitched seven innings, striking out 10 batters, allowing five hits, and six runs in the victory.
Enos also batted .667 in the contest going 2-for-3 and scoring a run.
Jimmy Shipman was a perfect 2-for-2, scoring two runs, and knocking in one RBI.
Neil Waner went 2-for-3, scoring twice, and compiling an RBI.
In game two, the Warriors got down early to the Wildcats, who took a 2-0 lead heading into the second inning.
After holding Moundridge scoreless in the second inning, Marion scored one run to cut the margin to one.
The Warriors added two runs in the third inning, two in the fourth inning, and three runs in the fifth inning to take a 8-2 advantage heading into the sixth.
But in the sixth inning, Moundridge stormed back into contention knotting things up at eight.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the Warriors shut out the Wildcats in the top of the eighth before adding the winning run in the bottom of the eight to win the game 9-8.
Enos finished the game on the mound in relief of Clayton Chamberland, who pitched six innings, striking out five batters, allowing eight hits, and six earned runs.
Enos pitched two innings in the contest without allowing a hit, but was not awarded the decision despite his efforts.
Waner led the Warriors offensively going 2-for-4 hitting, scoring one run, and driving in another. Enos also went 2-for-4, scoring a run, and recording an RBI.
The Warriors battled Chase County April 6, and will travel to Wichita Friday to take on Wichita Trinity Academy.
