Missed chances cost Cyclones vs. LC
HARLAN (June 22) -- Harlan Community mustered 10 hits Tuesday night but plated just one run in a 6-1 loss to the Lewis Central baseball team.
The Titans built a 4-0 advantage in the first two innings and got five scoreless frames from sophomore pitcher Casey Clair, improving to 14-6 overall and 10-3 in Hawkeye Ten Conference play - tied for first place in the loss column with the Kuemper Knights.
The Cyclones (7-10, 6-8 H-10) got some good swings off Clair early but made the least out of their scoring opportunities and lost to LC for the second time this season.
Trailing 1-0 in the first, HCHS got consecutive two-out singles from Isaiah Ahrenholtz, Luke Musich and Alex Monson, but the inning also featured a caught stealing and Ahrenholtz was thrown out at the plate by Titan right fielder Ty Thomson for the third out.
The Cyclones also wasted Kelby Lasher’s leadoff double in the second inning and failed to score in the third and fifth after having runners at second and third with one out each time.
They finally broke through in the sixth as Monson and Ben Muenchrath both singled, Cade Sears drew a walk and Joey Moser was hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. The inning ended with a force out at the plate and Titan reliever Luke Woltmann regrouped to work a 1-2-3 seventh.
Ahrenholtz, Lasher and Muenchrath all had two hits for HCHS and Moser reached base three times (1-for-2, two HBP).
Teagon Kasperbauer (3-2) took the loss on the mound, allowing 10 hits and six runs in five and two-thirds innings before Stephen Leinen got the final five outs in relief.
Lewis Central’s top three batters - Cael Malskeit, JC Dermody and Aron Harrington - had two hits each, including a Harrington double. Nine-hole batter Devin Nailor stepped up big as well, going 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases and three runs scored.
Senior Night:
The following seven Cyclone seniors were honored with their parents after the game for Senior Night: Isaiah Ahrenholtz, Kelby Lasher, Brenden Bartley, Tyler Mumm, Thomas Ernst, Ben Muenchrath and Chase Wilwerding.
HCHS played at Sioux City East Wednesday night and at Atlantic Thursday. The Cyclones will return to action Monday for a varsity doubleheader at Shenandoah.