High School Boys Baseball
Hilltoppers compile a 2-1 record for the week
Mount Pulaski’s record is 26-3 on the season

 

[May 14, 2023] 

The Hilltoppers baseball week consisted of a shutout win, a loss and a come from behind win.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

The Hilltoppers earned a 10-0 win over the Havana Ducks behind a gem of a pitching performance by Evan Cooper on the mound.

Cooper worked six innings, allowing three hits and zero runs while striking out 10 batters. He allowed just one walk.

Mount Pulaski took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as A.J. Bailey scored on an error by the Ducks. Bailey had walked to start the game.

Luke Martin’s home run in the bottom of the second inning put the Hilltoppers up 2-0. Martin was swinging on a 3-2 count and his solo shot landed over the center field fence.

The Hilltoppers struck again in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs. Chance Payne and Luke Martin had back-to-back doubles to drive in runs. Eric Cooper added an RBI single and the Hilltoppers scored another run on a wild pitch.

By the time the fourth inning ended, the Hilltoppers had a 9-0 lead over the Ducks. Landon Smith, Jackson Fricke and Chance Payne each singled and Martin added a sacrifice fly to account for the runs.

To start the sixth inning, Aylesworth reached base on an error. Eric Cooper followed with a single to center. After Bailey was intentionally walked, Evan Cooper came up to bat. With Cooper in the batter’s box, Aylesworth scored on a wild pitch and the game ended early with Mount Pulaski on top 10-0.

Chance Payne had a great day at the plate for Mount Pulaski. Payne was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Luke Martin was solid with a 2-for-3 performance and two runs scored and three RBIs.

Great production from the no. 5 and no. 6 hitters in the lineup.

Eric Cooper was also 2-for-3 with an RBI, hitting in the no. 9 spot.

Evan Cooper, Landon Smith, Jackson Fricke and Liam Smith also had hits for Mount Pulaski.

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Mount Pulaski fell to El Paso Gridley 8-3, managing just four hits on the afternoon.

The Hilltoppers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out single by Luke Martin that drove in two runs.

The Titans scored in each of the first two innings and captured a 5-2 lead early.

By the end of the fifth inning, the Titans were up 8-2.

Liam Smith led off the seventh inning with a double and he did come in to score after an error but that would conclude the Hilltoppers offense.

El Paso-Gridley wins by a final score of 8-3.

Chance Payne suffered the loss for Mount Pulaski. Payne started the game and lasted two innings, giving up six hits and five runs. He struck out five batters and walked three.

Luke Martin pitched in relief for four innings. Martin gave up four hits and three runs. He struck out seven batters and walked one.

Mount Pulaski’s four hits came from A.J. Bailey, Jackson Fricke, Luke Martin and Liam Smith.

Friday, May 12, 2023

The Hilltoppers came from behind Friday at home and defeated the Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals 10-9.

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the second inning but the Hilltoppers answered with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Chance Payne’s RBI single put the Hilltoppers on the scoreboard.

Those pesky birds put up five runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking a 7-1 lead.

The Hilltoppers began to crawl out of that hole in the bottom of the fourth inning. Liam Smith started the rally with a triple to right field. Eric Cooper’s double to center scored Smith. A.J. Bailey then singled to center to score Cooper. After Evan Cooper (walk), Landon Smith (hit by pitch) and Jackson Fricke (walk) reached base, Payne slugged a double to right that scored two runners, leaving Mount Pulaski trailing just 7-5.

Mount Pulaski plated five runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. The inning started with a fly out and then two walks and another fly out and then two more walks. At this point, the Hilltoppers will take anything they can get. With the score 7-6, Fricke cleared the bases with a double to deep center and with one powerful swing the Hilltoppers had taken the lead, 9-7 the score. Martin made the score 10-7 with his single to left field and the Hilltoppers were back in business.

The Cardinals plated two runs in the top of the sixth inning but Gavin Smith would shut down any further threat by striking out the final batter of the inning with the tying run left stranded at third base.

The Cardinal pitcher struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Gavin Smith pitched the seventh inning, recording two strikeouts and getting a big play from his right fielder, A.J. Bailey. Bailey ended the game on a spectacular catch with runners on base and the Hilltoppers secured the 10-9 win.

Gavin Smith earned the win in relief. Smith tossed three and one-third innings. He allowed two hits and two runs. He walked four batters and struck out seven batters.

Landon Smith started the game for Mount Pulaski. He tossed three and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs on six hits. He walked five batters and struck out five batters.

Chance Payne continued to swing a hot bat, recording three hits that included two big doubles, and driving in three runs.

Jackson Fricke drove in three runs with his big double in the fifth inning.

A.J. Bailey, Luke Martin, Liam Smith and Eric Cooper also had hits for Mount Pulaski.

The Hilltoppers are scheduled to play Monticello today at 4:30 p.m.

Regional baseball action will begin on Wednesday.

[Teena Lowery]