Hornets’ streak at 5 after win over Henderson
Logan Willis went the distance on the mound and the Hornets won 8-1 over Henderson County at Vastwood Park’s Tommy Keown Field Tuesday. It was the fifth consecutive victory for Hancock County.
The Hornets (5-1) took control in the second inning when they rallied with two outs. Colin Johnson led off the frame with a single and Luke Brown drew a walk with one out. Aiden Taylor sacrificed and Cole Dixon was walked intentionally to load the bases for Kaleb Keown.
Keown spanked a line drive to right field that plated two runs. Dixon scored on an error before Austin Volocko and Jack Roberts delivered RBI hits.
That was all the help Willis need as the senior was in command the entire game. Dixon and Ryan Jones both cashed in with RBI hits in the fourth to make the score 8-0.
The Colonels lone run came via error in the sixth.
Willis ended the contest with a strike out in the seventh. He allowed one run (none earned) on three hits, with 11 Ks and four walks over seven innings.
Volocko was 2 for 4 with one RBI, Johnson and Drew Lyday (double) both went 2 for 4, Keown was 1 for 2 with two RBI, Roberts was 1 for 3 with a double and one RBI, Jones and Dixon were both 1 for 4 with one RBI each. Jack Duncan, Brown and Taylor all scored a run.
McLean
The Hornets plated six runs during the late innings to pull away for a 9-3 win at McLean County Monday. Hancock County took the lead in the third on an RBI double by Logan Willis. He and Colin Johnson later crossed home plate to make it 3-0.
The Cougars returned the favor when they sent three runs across the plate in the fourth. Porter Hay came on in relief of Jordan Payne and pitched his way out of the jam. Kaleb Keown and Austin Volocko both cracked RBI doubles in the sixth and Cole Dixon tripled and scored in the seventh as the Hornets pulled away for the win. Hay struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.
“Porter came in and threw strong. We put him in a tough spot as a freshman and he settled in and commanded the game well,” HCHS coach Brad Keown said.
Hay got the win while allowing no runs on three hits, with six Ks and no walks over 3.1 innings. Payne allowed three runs on no hits, with three Ks and four walks in 3.2 innings. Layden Bozarth took the loss for McLean.
“We started sluggish. We left 11 runners on base, which can’t happen, but late we finally started driving in runs when we had runners in scoring postition. We got some big hits from Cole, Kaleb, Willis and Volocko,” coach Keown said. Johnson and Aiden Taylor both went 2 for 4 at the plate. Keown was 2 for 5 with two RBI, Willis was 1 for 3 with one RBI, Dixon was 1 for 4 with one RBI, Volocko was 1 for 5 with one RBI and Jack Duncan had one RBI.
Muhlenberg County
Brock Tindle pitched a shutout and the Hornets took a 1-0 victory over Muhlenberg County during a game played at Vastwood Park’s Tommy Keown Field Thursday.
“Brock commanded the whole game against one of the best teams in the region. He filled the zone up and only threw like 75 pitches in seven innings, which is really good,” coach Keown said. Tindle struck out the first two batters to begin the game then got the third out on a pop up. That was how things went for Tindle and the Hornets defense all evening.
Fly outs, ground outs and pop up were the theme for both teams offensively. Hancock County did have runners at second and third in the fourth inning but runners were left stranded. Aiden Taylor singled and later reached third base in the fifth inning but again the Hornets were unable to push the run across.
Tindle continued to pitch well and the Mustangs didn’t show a serious chance to score until the top of the seventh when two batters hit safely.
Muhlenberg County had runners at first and third with one out when Tindle got the next batter to pop up to the mound. The threat ended when Kaleb Keown recorded the third out on a caught pop up in foul territory.
With the score still tied at 0-0, Colin Johnson drew a base on balls to lead off the home half of the seventh. The senior stole second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jack Duncan. Cole Dixon then stroked a walk-off line drive to left field allowing Johnson to score the game winning run.
Tindle allowed no runs on three hits, with five Ks and no walks over seven complete innings. K. Ray took the loss for MCHS.
Keown and Austin Volocko were both 1 for 2 at the plate. Taylor was 1 for 3 and Dixon was 1 for 4 with one RBI.
Volocko, Johnson and Dixon all stole one base each.
By Steve Wimmer
