Mount Pulaski blanks Arthur-Okaw Christian 19-0

[May 10, 2021]  The Hilltoppers recorded their fourth consecutive shutout on Thursday by beating Arthur-Okaw Christian 19-0 on a cool and windy afternoon at Veteran’s Park in Mount Pulaski.

A.J. Bailey and Luke Farris combined to pitch a three-inning no-hitter. Bailey started the game and tossed two innings, striking out six batters. Farris struck out two batters in one inning of work. Bailey was the winning pitcher for Mount Pulaski.

The Hilltoppers put 14 runs on the board in the first inning. Bailey started the game by getting a leadoff walk. Evan Cooper was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. A double by Landon Smith cleared those baserunners and the Hilltoppers were on top 2-0 with much more run support to come. Smith stole third base and came flying home on a wild pitch. Two walks and an error later, the bases were loaded for Clay Aylesworth. Gavin Smith scored on a wild pitch just ahead of Aylesworth cracking an RBI single to short to make the score 5-0. The Hilltoppers chased the starting pitcher out of the game and were back to the top of the lineup again. Bailey and Cooper slugged RBI singles this time around to make the score 8-0. Drew Martin then crushed a triple to centerfield to bring home Bailey and Cooper. The Hilltoppers lead was now 10-0. A groundout by Landon Smith scored Martin from third and the lead was 11-0. With two outs the Hilltoppers were still able to produce runs. Lucas Kuhlman added a two-run single. Aylesworth then sent a double to left to score Kuhlman and the Hilltoppers had batted around twice in the inning, scoring 14 runs. Ethan Payne ended the inning batting for Bailey and he would fly out to third.

The Hilltoppers second inning started with Luke Farris getting hit by a pitch. Hunter Kretzinger followed with a single to right. After the next two Hilltoppers struck out, Farris scored from third on a wild pitch. Jack Halsey then slugged an RBI single to right field to score Kretzinger. Nolan Deibert singled to keep the inning alive. Colt Selinger walked to load the bases for Daniel McCormick. McCormick walked and the Hilltoppers scored again. Bailey singled to third to score Deibert. With the bases loaded again, Farris walked and Mount Pulaski had a 19-0 lead. The second inning ended on a strikeout of Kretzinger.

Farris took the mound in the third inning and the Hilltoppers quickly recorded three outs to end the misery for Arthur-Okaw Christian.

The Hilltoppers win by a final score of 19-0.

Mount Pulaski pounded out 12 hits.

A.J. Bailey was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Clay Aylesworth was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs.

Evan Cooper, Drew Martin, Hunter Kretzinger, Landon Smith, Jack Halsey, Lucas Kuhlman, Nolan Deibert and Garrett Fitzpatrick also had hits for Mount Pulaski.

The Hilltoppers improved to 7-0 on the season.

[Teena Lowery]