By Jayden Mies
Freelance Reporter
Special to the Tribune
After battling through tough doubleheaders against Hutchinson and Great Bend, the Pratt High School Baseball team has begun to roll through their competition in the Central Kansas League. The Greenbacks recently picked up sweeps against Hoisington, Haven, and Halstead to improve their record to 7-3.
First, the team most recently matched up against the Hoisington Cardinals, when they traveled there on Friday, April 11. The team opened up the first game by jumping out to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings. Pratt was then able to build on this lead as the game went on, only allowing three runs between pitchers Owen Schmidt and Max Thimesch. The team won by a final score of 8-3.
Here, the Greenbacks collected nine total hits, with Schmidt and Caleb Strong each tallying a pair. On the mound, Schmidt pitched the first four innings, only giving up two runs on one hit. He collected six total strikeouts. Thimesch then shut the door on the Cardinals, pitching the last three innings while only giving up one run on three hits, striking out three.
The next game proved to be another offensive onslaught for Pratt. To begin the game, they scored nine total runs in the first inning. They were able to maintain this lead throughout the rest of the game, and they won by a final score of 11-2.
In total, Pratt collected 12 hits in the second contest. Half of these were supplied by the top three of their order, with Owen Schmidt and Strong each having two and Josiah Schmidt slugging three hits, two of them being doubles. Other Greenbacks tallying hits included Chaz Teafatiller, Cresten Pore, Adan Rice, and Madden Wilson.
Kyler Craft started things off on the mound for the Greenbacks. He pitched four innings, giving up 2 runs on 8 hits with five strikeouts. Landon Demuth then closed the last three innings, as he didn’t allow any runs, only giving up 2 hits and striking out 6.
Earlier that week, Pratt traveled to Haven on Tuesday, April 8 to face off against the rival Wildcats. Historically, Haven has been a tough, scrappy team that fights to stay in each game, so the Greenbacks knew that they would have to be efficient on both sides of the game.
To open the game, Pratt came out firing with seven total runs in the first and second innings. Haven then answered with two in the third, but Pratt was able to shut down the Wildcat offense after that. Pratt took the first game by a final score of 9-2.
The Greenbacks’ blistering hot offense collected 14 total hits this game, with Strong and Teafatiller leading the way with three each. Several of Pratt’s hit were for extra bases as well. Teafatiller, Josiah Schmidt, and Pore each had a double, and Demuth, Craft, and Pore all slugged triples. Lastly, Josiah Schmidt hit Pratt’s first home run of the year.
The second game proved to be another solid offensive showing for Pratt. To begin the game, Haven jumped out to an early 3-0 lead at the end of the first, but Pratt immediately
answered in the second with 5 runs. Two more five-run innings helped to propel the Greenbacks to another victory. The final score of this game was 16-6.
Leading the way offensively with two hits each were Strong, Teafatiller, and Luke Gatlin. They were complimented with hits from several other Greenbacks, including both Schmidt’s, Kameron Cox, and Pore.
Three pitchers combined to complete this game for Pratt. Craft started, giving up four runs on four hits with six strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings.. Demuth and Josiah Schmidt then came in, throwing 1 and 2 and one-thirds innings respectively and only giving up one run apiece.
With these early sweeps, Pratt now sits atop the Central Kansas League, and they will look to stay there as they head into the next doubleheader. This will be on Tuesday, April 15, when the Greenbacks will travel to Lyons to face off against the Lions in another league matchup.
