BASEBALL: 5-run fifth powers Verdigris past Stilwell in district showdown
Verdigris waited patiently before delivering the knockout punch Monday night. Locked in a tight game through four innings, the Cardinals exploded for 5 runs in the fifth to pull away for a 7-1 District 4A-7 home victory over Stilwell, improving to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in district play. Shortstop Ian Lane led the charge offensively, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored.
Conner Stump and ...
Verdigris waited patiently before delivering the knockout punch Monday night. Locked in a tight game through four innings, the Cardinals exploded for 5 runs in the fifth to pull away for a 7-1 District 4A-7 home victory over Stilwell, improving to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in district play. Shortstop Ian Lane led the charge offensively, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored.
Conner Stump and Mac West also collected 2 hits apiece as Verdigris finished with 11 hits and 7 stolen bases. On the mound, left-hander Boston Acosta was dominant from start to finish, allowing just 2 hits and an unearned run across 7 innings while striking out 9. The Cardinals’ defense also made several key plays behind him, including routine handling of multiple fielder’s choice situations and a steady final frame in which Lane recorded all three outs at shortstop.
The Indians [3-3, 3-2] threatened first in the fourth inning, though. After Cole Wilhite singled and Jett Kimble followed with a base hit to center, they put pressure on the Verdigris defense. A pair of fielder’s choice grounders moved runners into scoring position before Mikey Sawney reached on an error at third that allowed Kimble to score for a 1-0 Stilwell lead.