Knights can’t muster offense in high-scoring games

Facing off against some high-hitting teams, the Cornell-Lake Holcombe baseball squad took on three conference opponents.

May 18 vs. Prairie Farm conference (L 11-2)

In the road game against Prairie Farm, the Knights fell behind early and couldn’t catch up, as the Panthers scored in the second inning on a triple, single and a walk, to go up by three runs. The Knights added a run in the second and third innings, but that would be all the offense they could muster, as the Panthers added one more run in the third and seven runs in the fifth inning.

The game would go the way of the home team, 11-2.

“Putting a puzzle together takes time,” said coach Brandon Baldry. “We have greatly improved in several areas this season.”

Senior Kaden Crank started the game for the Knights on the mound, allowing 2 hits and 3 runs, over one and twothirds innings, striking out 1. Junior Dylan Bowen and sophomore Cead Ewer entered the game as relief, throwing two and a third innings, and two innings, respectively.

“Defensively, we played a solid game only committing one error,” said Baldry. “We had some highlight reel catches by Tate and Max Sauerwein.”

The Knights tallied six hits on the day, where junior Colton Minnick and Bowen each had 2 hits. The senior T. Sauerwein led with two stolen bases, as the Knights “ran wild” on the base paths, with five stolen bases.

“Our performance at the plate was where we struggled,” said Baldry. “We need to put together all phases of the game.”

May 20 vs. Bruce conference (L 21-3)

It was then the Knights turn to host a game, taking on the Bruce Red Raiders in Cornell. The hits didn’t fall in favor of the Knights and the Cornell-Lake Holcombe team went through five different pitchers in the game.

The Knights couldn’t pull out the victory and Bruce walked away with the game, 21-3.

Bowen started on the hill for the Knights, throwing two and two-thirds innings. Crank, Ewer, T. Sauerwein and M. Sauerwein, all pitched in relief.

Collecting a hit each for the Knights, were Minnick, Crank, freshman Trent Nitek, M. Sauerwein and T. Sauerwein.

Quoting Yankee great, Yogi Berra, Baldry encouraged his team and fans with immortal words.

“Baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical.”

May 24 vs. Birchwood conference (L 9-2)

To finish out the week, the Knights traveled to Birchwood, in a conference match-up with the Bobcats. Again, Cornell-Lake Holcombe couldn’t get their bats going, while the defense gave up seven runs in the first couple innings.

Both teams went scoreless in the third and fourth, but the Knights got on the board in the fifth inning, scoring two runs. The Bobcats struck back in the sixth, adding two runs and eventually taking the game, 9-2.

Crank and Bowen each pitched three innings for the Knights, giving up a combined 11 hits and 9 walks, while striking out 9.

T. Sauerwein and senior Brock Flater each tallied a hit on the offensive side, with Flater recording the only RBI for the team.

In the East Lakeland Conference, the Knights remain winless at 0-6, and are 1-11 overall.

“We will keep getting better every day, even on the days that we take a step back,” said Baldry.