Sears secures school win record in “slam” fashion

HCHS senior passes Schiltz for most pitching wins in school history as Cyclones sweep Denison

 DENISON (July 8) -- The way it all played out was vintage Brett Sears.
 In line for his record-breaking 34th career pitching win if the game ended early, the Harlan Community senior took matters into his own hands with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning Monday, giving HCHS a 12-1 mercy-rule win in the night cap of a doubleheader sweep at Denison-Schleswig.
 The fourth-ranked (3A) Cyclones also won the first game 14-0. They were the home team in game two of the twin bill, allowing Sears to end things on his terms with the bases loaded and one out, a favorable wind and, of course, Denison’s short porch to all fields.
 “Especially when (the count) went to 3-1, I was like, ‘I’m hitting this out or I’m not hitting it at all,’” Sears said. “I was swinging for the fences for sure... It just worked out that I got a good barrel on it. Get it up in the air here, you never know.”
 By ending the game in five, Sears (6-1) secured the pitching win despite going just three innings on a strict pitch count. Now 34-4 during the last five years, Sears surpassed Danny Schiltz’s school record for career wins. Schiltz won 33 games during three years on the varsity from 1994-96.
 “Harlan’s got a great baseball history and to be part of it and be in the record book is pretty special,” Sears said. “Honestly, it’s cool but it’s good to get out of the way. The memories with the team are what I’ll remember [most] in the future.”
 Sears has certainly been involved with many memorable moments since beginning his varsity career as an eighth-grader in 2015. HCHS has played in the last four 3A state championship games, winning a state title in 2016. Sears had the game-winning hit in the Cyclones’ 2015 state semifinal win over Pella and has accumulated six postseason wins during the last two years.
 Schiltz, meanwhile, was the winning pitcher in the 1996 state title game, capping a senior season in which he went 14-1 with four tournament victories.
 The grand slam capped a big doubleheader at the plate for Sears, who went 5-for-9, with a double, a homer, nine RBI (six in game two) and three runs scored.
 HCHS improved to 22-4 overall and 15-4 in Hawkeye Ten Conference play. Denison dropped to 13-14 overall and 10-10 in the conference.
HCHS 14, Denison 0
 Junior Connor Bruck (7-0) added to his outstanding season on the mound in game one Monday, pitching a three-hit shutout with six strikeouts (no walks, two hit batters) as the Cyclones broke open a close game in the late innings to win 14-0.
 Number nine batter Jon Owens continued a torrid stretch at the plate by going 4-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs scored. Bruck went 3-for-4 with a two-RBI double and Sears was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI.
HCHS 12, Denison 1 (5)
 The Cyclones made the most of their six hits in game two, also taking advantage of five walks, four hit batsmen and three D-S errors.
 Prior to Sears’ late grand slam, Brenden Bartley hit his first homer - a two-run shot - in the second inning. Sears also hit a two-run single in the fourth.

 
 

 

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