Holden Baseball Team Places Second In Holden Baseball Tourney
Solid Stats… Eagle pitcher/infielder Lane Siemer was named as an all-tournament selection for his play in the Holden Baseball Tournament April 10 – 15. Siemer recorded a batting average of .333 with three RBIs, and totaled six strikeouts in a win on the pitcher’s mound during the Eagles’ four round robin games in the tournament. Photo by Steve Edwards
With three wins versus one loss in round robin play in the Holden Baseball Tournament held at Odessa High School April 10 – 15, the Eagles recorded a runner-up finish while improving their record on the season to 8-4.
Early-round victories over El Dorado Springs, Sherwood, and Knob Noster were countered by a loss to eventual tournament champion Odessa in Holden’s final round robin game on Thursday.
“Overall, it was a good week…just didn’t end the way we wanted,” said Holden baseball coach Charlie Castle. “Oh well, we still have a lot to play for, and we need to bounce back next week, starting at Richmond for a doubleheader Monday.”
Holden 13 El Dorado 2
The Eagles plated eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against El Dorado Springs to go ahead 13-2 in Holden’s first tournament game on Monday, April 10.
The contest was ended by the run rule when the Bulldogs failed to add to the two runs they scored in the top of the first inning.
“Lane Siemer pitched well after a rough first inning in a complete game victory,” said coach Castle. “He gave up five hits with two walks, and six strikeouts. One of the runs was earned, but Siemer didn’t help himself by falling behind in the count to several batters in the first inning.
“Wes Brown, Garrett Smith, Aiden Morarity, Aiden Christian, and Siemer each had two hits,” noted coach Castle as Christian returned to the lineup after being cleared from a preseason surgery. “Second baseman Cohen Drake had a nice defensive play in the game when he dove to his left, and was able to stop the ball to get the lead runner at first base in the third inning. He later had the biggest hit of the game when he had a two-out, two-run single to put us up 5-2 in the bottom of the inning.
“After that, we seemed to relax, and then broke open the next inning when they were out of pitching. Drake finished one-for-one with two walks.”
Holden 8 Sherwood 1
The Eagles manufactured an 8-1 win over Sherwood on Tuesday by scoring in five of the game’s seven innings.
The Marksmen plated their lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
“Starting pitcher Lane Inglis, a junior, threw well,” said coach Castle. “Inglis went five shutout innings to his first varsity victory. He allowed two hits with three walks, and five strikeouts. He also made two good plays to help himself defensively. Offensively, we didn’t play particularly well. Tyler Barker and Garrett Smith did have two hits each to lead the offense.”
Holden 9 Knob Noster 1
Holden scattered nine runs across seven innings versus the Panthers in the Eagles’ third round tournament game on Wednesday, April 12.
The Panthers mustered just one unearned run which came in the bottom of the seventh inning as Eagle starting pitcher Garrett Smith pitched for all but the final out in the contest.
“Garrett Smith pitched well, going 6 2/3 innings, and just surrendering one unearned run,” said coach Castle. “He finished with three walks, and seven strikeouts on five hits. He did a great job of mixing his pitches, and working up and down, as well as off the corners at times. Sometimes he has a tendency to throw too many strikes, but I thought he was excellent in this game at expanding the zone and making them hit his pitch.”
Holden recorded 11 hits versus Panther starting pitcher Trent Gallagher after Gallagher held Holden to three hits in a 1-0 home win for the Eagles on March 27.
“Offensively, a couple of hit batters followed by some clutch hitting got us rolling against Knob Noster pitcher Trent Gallagher, who has given us fits in the past, and has top of the rotation type stuff as well as poise,” said coach Castle. “We just happened to take advantage of some stuff today.
“Aiden Morarity drove in our first run with an RBI groundout by doing a great job of shortening up with two strikes on him. Then, Kale Tryon had a clutch two-out single to drive in two more runs, and we were off and rolling. We kept competing at the plate and scoring in the next few innings by stringing together quality at-bats.
“Tryon had a big game with three hits in four tries with the two RBIs, and a stolen base. Lane Siemer added two more hits and an RBI. Wes Brown continues to get on base, going one-for-two with two walks, and two runs scored. Wes also closed the game out with a strikeout on the mound.”
Tournament Recognition… Eagle pitcher/infielder Garrett Smith was named as an all-tournament selection for his play in the Holden Baseball Tournament April 10 – 15. Smith recorded a .357 batting average with seven RBIs, and totaled seven strikeouts in a win on the pitcher’s mound during Holden’s four games in the tournament. Photo by Steve Edwards
Holden 0 Odessa 7
Three runs scored by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the second inning proved to be enough for Odessa when the Eagles took to the field for their fourth and final home tournament game played on Odessa’s field.
Four insurance runs scored by Odessa in the bottom of the sixth inning set the final score.
“A bad second inning cost us, and took the air out of the place,” said coach Castle. “We had several chances to get out of the inning, but just didn’t get it done. We kind of felt sorry for ourselves for a second, but then I think we grew as a team with the adversity. We competed for the rest of the game.
“The problem is Jackson Murry, the Odessa pitcher, as they don’t lose very often when he throws. He finished with 14 strikeouts, three walks, and four hits.
“Our hits were by Wes Brown, Garrett Smith, Kale Tryon, and Cohen Drake,” noted coach Castle. “Aiden Morarity started. He went three innings, giving up three unearned runs, but he hit two batters. He walked three more, so he didn’t help himself. We pulled him just so he didn’t exceed his pitch count to be eligible for Monday. Brown went two innings, giving up three runs (1 ER), and Drake gave up an unearned run.”
At the end of last week, the Holden baseball team held an MRVC-East mark of 2-1 to go with their season record of 8-4.
All-Tourney Team
Holden players Garrett Smith and Lane Siemer were named to the Holden Baseball All-Tournament Team, as selected by Holden sports announcer Terry Hedglin, and based upon tournament stats.
Smith totaled a batting average of .357, two doubles, one triple, seven RBIs, and three runs scored on offense. On the mound, Smith totaled 6 2/3 innings, allowed two hits, surrendered no earned runs, gave up two walks, and recorded seven strikeouts.
Siemer posted a batting average of .333, three RBIs, and one run scored. On the mound, Siemer pitched five innings, allowed two hits, gave up one earned run, allowed two walks, and recorded six strikeouts.
Other members of the Holden Baseball All-Tournament Team include Jackson Murry, Gabe Studdard, and Zack Miller, Odessa; Trey Payne and Josh Hagle, Knob Noster; Layson Wiedenmann, Sherwood; and Connor Bradley, El Dorado Springs. Trey Payne was named as MVP of the Holden Baseball Tournament.
The Holden baseball team split in a conference varsity doubleheader at Richmond on Monday this week with Holden taking a win by the score of 6-1, and Richmond finding an edge in a 4-3 victory.
The Holden baseball team plays at Knob Noster in a conference match-up this Thursday, April 20, with the varsity contest at 4:30 p.m., and a JV game to follow.
