Eagles Baseball Team Finds Success Versus Sherwood In Season Opener
Aiding His Own Cause… Eagles senior pitcher Garrett Smith knocks a base hit to right-center field during the second inning of Holden’s home game against Sherwood on Monday, March 20. Smith would cross the plate for one of two runs scored by Holden in the inning. The senior right-hander notched the win in the start on the hill in the season-opener as the Eagles won the run-rule shortened contest by the final score of 13-0. Photo by Steve Edwards
A combined pitching effort from Holden senior pitcher Garrett Smith and freshman Wes Brown that accounted for 15 strikeouts led to a run-rule shortened home win over Sherwood by the final score of 13-0 on Monday, March 20.
Holden put the ball in play throughout the game for nine hits to produce six runs in the first inning, two in the second, and five in the fourth for the season-opening win. The Marksmen totaled seven errors in the game.
“Great way to start the season as about everything went right for us,” said Holden baseball coach Charlie Castle. “Sherwood did not put the ball in play as they had 15 strikeouts. Senior Garrett Smith dominated by striking out 12, and walking one in four innings pitched. Freshman Wes Brown closed it out with three strikeouts.
“Offensively, Lane Siemer had a big two-out, two-run single in the first to put us up 5-0, after freshman Cohen Drake knocked in the third run of the inning.”
Holden Baseball Team Splits Doubleheader With Russellville
Playing host to the Russellville Indians in games played on the field at Warrensburg High School, the Holden baseball team went 1-1 on the day on Saturday, March 25.
Holden 1 Russellville 8
Holden totaled five hits in the first contest of the two-game set, and plated a run in the fifth inning after the Indians scattered eight runs through the first four innings.
“We faced Charlie Miller, a Mizzou commit,” noted Holden baseball coach Charlie Castle. “He went five innings, allowing four hits with two walks, and eight strikeouts.
“After a sloppy top of the first in which an error opened the door for their two runs, we had a chance to get back in the game. Brown’s double helped put runners at second and third with nobody out.
“Miller buckled down, and made some nasty pitches to strikeout out our three and four hitters before getting a ground ball to end the inning. He really settled down after that, and was in command.”
The Eagles put runners on base in four of the final five innings with Holden’s lone run in the game crossing the plate in the fifth inning.
“Our only run was scored when Wes Brown singled home Tyler Barker in the sixth,” described coach Castle. “We had five hits – two by Brown, and one apiece by Kale Tryon, Carson Gard, and Trace Angell.
“Lane Siemer took the loss giving up four runs (3 ER) in two innings,” reported coach Castle. “Cohen Drake also gave up four runs, and four walks in a couple innings of work.
“Lane Inglis came in to restore order. He pitched very well in two innings of scoreless relief followed by Tyler Barker who also went a scoreless inning.”
Holden 4 Russellville 3
The Eagles took a 3-0 lead after three innings of play, and held on for a 4-3 win in the second game of the doubleheader.
“Aiden Morarity pitched very well in getting the win,” said coach Castle. “He went three hitless innings with two walks, and four strikeouts.
“Garrett Smith picked up the save,” added coach Castle. “He went the final four innings, including a perfect seventh to close out the game.”
Holden totaled seven hits as a team to produce multiple scoring opportunities as the Eagle defense kept the Indians in check.
“Defensively and pitching-wise, we were very solid, and that’s why we won,” said coach Castle. “Offensively, we left a small village on base as we did not do a good job of hitting with runners in scoring position. That’s something we will be working on in future practices as kids had too big of a swing when all we needed was a ground ball to drive in a run.
“Lane Siemer did have a two-run double in the second inning. Kale Tryon and Wes Brown each had a pair of hits, and an RBI. Also hitting safely were Smith and Morarity, along with Siemer.
“Catcher Carson Gard made a couple of big plays by nailing two runners who tried to steal,” highlighted coach Castle. “Those ended up being big outs in a one-run game.”
The Holden baseball team held an overall record of 2-1 at the end of last week with no conference games played.
For an up-to-date Holden Eagles baseball schedule, visit the calendar section on the Holden R-3 website at holdenschools.org.
