High School Boys Baseball
Mount Pulaski defeats Illini Central 10-0

[May 04, 2021] 

The Hilltoppers hosted Illini Central Monday night at Veteran’s Park and managed to get the game completed before the storm hit.

A.J. Bailey started the offense in the first inning with a leadoff single. Bailey stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout by Evan Cooper. Bailey would score the first run of the game on an error by the Cougars shortstop. Mount Pulaski led 1-0 after an inning of play.

The Hilltoppers scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Cooper drew a walk to leadoff the inning. Cooper stole second and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice. Landon Smith scored the other run in the inning on an error. Mount Pulaski led 3-0 after three innings.

The bottom of the fifth inning started with Gavin Smith getting hit by a pitch. He stole second and then scored easily on a triple by Lucas Kuhlman. Garrett Fitzpatrick grounded out to the third baseman next but this allowed Kuhlman to score the Hilltoppers fifth run of the game. Mount Pulaski took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Hilltoppers broke the game open in the sixth inning. A leadoff single by Cooper was just the beginning. Drew Martin doubled to center, allowing Cooper to score.

Landon Smith then singled to left to bring home Martin. After stealing third, Smith would score on a wild pitch. Gavin Smith, who had been hit by a pitch in his at-bat, would also score a run in the inning on a wild pitch. The game ended on a sacrifice fly by Fitzpatrick, scoring Grant Davis with the final run.

Mount Pulaski wins the six-inning game by the 10-run rule. The final score was 10-0.

Landon Smith earned the win for Mount Pulaski. Smith pitched four innings and allowed four hits and struck out two batters. Gavin Smith pitched two innings in relief and struck out five batters.

Offensively for Mount Pulaski, A.J. Bailey was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Lucas Kuhlman was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Landon Smith was 1-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Garrett Fitzpatrick was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Drew Martin was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Evan Cooper was 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

Mount Pulaski improves to 6-0 on the season.

[Teena Lowery]