Mount Pulaski crushes North Greene 16-1
- Hilltoppers celebrate Senior Day

[May 27, 2021]  The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers honored four seniors on Saturday before the game with North Greene. Drew Martin, Grant Davis, Garrett Fitzpatrick and Matthew Hagenbuch were recognized for their commitment to the Hilltoppers baseball program.

The Hilltoppers scored 15 runs in the first two innings off Warriors pitching, en route to a 16-1 win.

Things started off pretty shaky for the Warriors in the first inning. The starting pitcher walked the first three batters and then hit the fourth batter in the inning. A relief pitcher entered the game before an out was even recorded. The Hilltoppers would go on to score five runs in the inning without ever recording a hit. Three wild pitches, one more walk, a passed ball and a ground out led to the five runs for Mount Pulaski.

The Warriors did score a run in the top of the second inning on an RBI single off Landon Smith.

The situation escalated in the bottom of the second inning for North Greene. This time the Hilltoppers put the bat on the ball and the runs poured. A.J. Bailey started the inning with a single. Evan Cooper and Drew Martin followed suit with singles. Landon Smith was then hit by a pitch. Three runs had already crossed the plate at this point with many more to come. Gavin Smith hit an RBI double to right to score a run. Grant Davis added an RBI single to left. Jackson Fricke slugged an RBI double to left. After two walks were issued in the inning, the bases were loaded for Drew Martin. Martin cleared the bases with a triple to right. Lucas Kuhlman got the last hit of the inning, a triple to left that scored Martin. After all this damage was done, Mount Pulaski was on top 15-1.

Grant Davis, Matthew Hagenbuch, Garrett Fitzpatrick and Drew Martin were honored before the game on Senior Day. Photo Courtesy of Erin Martin.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Clay Aylesworth reached base on an error. Daniel McCormick followed with a single to second. Kuhlman doubled in Aylesworth and that was the ballgame.

The Hilltoppers won 16-1 in four quick innings over North Greene on Senior Day.

The Hilltoppers had 10 hits in the game.

Drew Martin was 2-for-2 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Lucas Kuhlman was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

Gavin Smith, Grant Davis, Jackson Fricke, A.J. Bailey, Evan Cooper and Daniel McCormick each had hits for the Hilltoppers.

Landon Smith was the winning pitcher for Mount Pulaski. Smith worked two innings, allowing two hits and one run. He struck out three batters.

A.J. Bailey pitched an inning in middle relief, striking out two batters.

Gavin Smith pitched the last inning, striking out the side.

Mount Pulaski improves to 13-0 on the season.

Mount Pulaski will play at Midwest Central today at 4:30 p.m.

[Teena Lowery]