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 Warrensburg-Latham had men at first and second with no outs, when
a Cardinal hitter ripped a high fly-ball that looked like a double.
But Lincoln senior Aaron Hopp streaked across the outfield and
snatched the ball from midair. Hopp then crow-hopped, threw hit body
into it, and fired a laser to third base to complete the double play
and throw out a Warrensburg runner by three steps.
“I've been coaching a lot of years now, and I can't think of a
better throw than that one,” Lincoln Head Coach Pat Hake said.
“Honestly it was a game changer. I feel if (the runner) makes it to
third base, the winds of the game change big time.”
But Hopp wasn't done.
 In Lincoln's half of the inning Hopp laid down a perfect bunt that
split the pitcher and first baseman, and while Warrensburg's infield
kicked the dirt because they missed the play Hopp stole second.
“That's Aaron Hopp,” Hake said. “He's going to be able to create
some things with his legs.”
The Railsplitters created their first win of the season Saturday.
Hake says if the team can plan like it did over the weekend,
there'll be man more wins to come.
Coach Hake says after a few years of losses, Lincoln has a deep team
that will be aggressive this year.
“I fell like we can beat Chatham or Sacred Heart Griffin,” Hake said
about this year's Central State Eight. “But I can also see us losing
to Jacksonville.”
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Senior Garrett Aeilts was one of five rail pitchers Saturday,, none
of them let up a run.
“First time coming out on the mound, it was definitely a little
nerve-wracking,” Aeilts said. “But once you get tat first out there,
it's all fine from there.”
Hake says Lincoln has a deep roster of pitchers, the coach says five
of them have pitched 20-plus innings of varsity ball.
“At some point, we're going to have to hit a little bit,” Hake says
Lincoln batters managed just two base hits and two bunts on
Saturday.
Lincoln will get its first Central State Eight test of the year
Tuesday with a game at home against Sacred Heart Griffin.
[Benjamin Yount]
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