Hilltoppers open the season with an
8-1 win over Nokomis
[March 21, 2025]
The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers opened their season on the road
Thursday afternoon against the Nokomis Redskins.
Mount Pulaski pounded out 10 hits while earning the 8-1 win.
This first win of the season is special because it also gives
first-year head coach Troy Burgard win no. 1 of his Varsity coaching
career.
Burgard served as the Hilltoppers assistant coach for 13 seasons. He
took over the head coaching position when Joel Washko left Mount
Pulaski to take a position at Lincoln Community High School. Washko
had a very successful run as the Hilltoppers head coach and Burgard
was the perfect choice to take over the team.
Coach Burgard has a talented group of ballplayers to work with this
season and the team has a new home field to look forward to playing
on pretty soon. The location of the baseball field at Veterans Park
remains the same but Bob Gasaway Field is getting some renovations.
Burgard said they are waiting for new sod to be put down in the
infield and then after a couple weeks the team should be able to
take the field.
Despite the project running a little behind schedule, it’ll be worth
the wait, Burgard noted.
A new backstop has already been installed and the “MP” logo, along
with the words “Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers” in yellow/gold lettering
outlined in white, looks sharp against the purple background.
In the meantime, the Hilltoppers have confidence playing away games
and cold March baseball doesn’t seem to bother the boys either.
On Thursday it was Luke Martin’s two-run double in the top of the
third inning that put the Hilltoppers up 2-1 and they never gave up
the lead.
Mount Pulaski would go on to add multiple runs in two more innings.
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The Hilltoppers had a productive fifth inning when Kolin Gibbs led
off with a double to left field. Tyler Cross singled to right field
to drive Gibbs home. After a ground out advanced Cross to second,
Carter Clark hit a line drive to left field to score Cross. Mount
Pulaski took a 4-1 lead over the Redskins.
Mount Pulaski added four huge insurance runs in the top of the
seventh inning that helped to secure the win. Aaron Volle and Chase
Roberts each added two-run singles to boost Mount Pulaski’s offense
and secure the 8-1 victory.
Eric Cooper (1-0) earned the win for the Hilltoppers. He worked four
innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. He walked three and
struck out two batters.
Aaron Volle picked up the save (1) in relief. He tossed three
innings of shutout baseball and struck out three batters. Volle
walked two batters that caused no damage.
Tyler Cross and Aaron Volle led the Mount Pulaski offense with two
hits apiece.
Cross was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Volle was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.
Eric Cooper, Kolin Gibbs, Luke Martin, Jaeden Jackson, Carter Clark
and Chase Roberts each had a hit for Mount Pulaski.
Mount Pulaski will play at Litchfield today at 4:30 p.m.
[Teena Lowery]
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