The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The La Harpe-Northwestern varsity baseball team swept through 6 games last week.
On Monday, April 29, the Thunder battled Nauvoo-Colusa at Community Field in Burlington, IA. After a tough first inning, sophomore Chase DeCounter settled down on the mound, tossing a one-hitter, leading L-N to the 14-3 win.
Nine Thunder players collected hits in the game, led by Jason apt, with a double and a triple, and Jason Siegworth, who singled twice.
Jesse Ferguson, DeCounter, Ben Brown, Kyle Duffie and Jason Myers all had a single each, while Lane Metcalf and A. J. Huston added one double each. Siegworth collected 3 RBI's. Metcalf and DeCounter had 2 RBI's. Apt, Myers, Huston and Ferguson all drove in one.
The next afternoon the Thunder traveled to Stronghurst to tangle with conference rival Southern. Riding the strong pitching performances of Jason Myers and Jason Siegworth, L-N swept a doubleheader by the scores of 3-0 and 5-3. In game one, Myers tossed a one-hitter to run his record to 7-1 on the season. Offensively, Jensen Jones led the way, with a 3-3 performance and one RBI. Lane Metcalf had a single and one RBI, with Siegworth and Jesse Ferguson also adding hits for the Thunder.
In game two, Siegworth struck out 5 and recorded the win, to up his record to 6-1.
Metcalf was the offensive hero, crushing a 3 run home run to give the Thunder the lead 4-3 that eventually became a 5-3 decision. Siegworth helped himself with 2 hits, including a double. Kyle Duffie had 2 hits and an RBI, with Jason Myers also adding a double. Ben Brown and Chase DeCounter also added singles in the win. Brown had an RBI as well.
On Friday, May 3, the Thunder hosted Rushville in a non-conference contest. Jensen Jones continued the string of strong pitching performances in leading L-N to a 15-2 victory.
He allowed 6 hits in a complete game showing. On offense Jones also contributed a home run and 4 RBIs. Jason Myers collected 3 hits and an RBI. Kyle Duffie and Jason Apt also had 2 hits and 2 RBIs each. Also adding hits were Chase DeCounter, Lane Metcalf and Thomas Todd. Myers, Todd, Michael DeWitt and Jesse Ferguson had the other Thunder RBIs.
On Saturday, May 4, L-N was again on the road, traveling to Carthage for a doubleheader. The Thunder again received two great pitching performances en route to a sweep by the scores of 9-4 and 9-2. Chase DeCounter was the winner in game one, striking out 10. A. J. Huston had a 3-4 game at the plate. DeCounter, Jason Siegworth, and Jesse Ferguson had two hits each. Kyle Duffie, Lane Metcalf, Jason Myers, Jason Apt and Jensen Jones also had a hit each. Apt, Ferguson, and Siegworth each had 2 RBIs. Myers and Duffie added an RBI each.
In game two, junior Thomas Todd made his first start of the season and he threw a gem, going the distance, allowing only 4 hits, striking out 4, and allowing no walks.
Jesse Ferguson continued his hot streak at the plate, going 3-4, adding 2 RBIs. Six other Thunder players had one hit each: Ben Brown, Jensen Jones, Lane Metcalf, Jason Apt, Kyle Duffie and Jason Myers. Duffie added 2 RBIs while Jones, Apt, Myers, Metcalf and Brown also had an RBI each.
The wins this past week moves the Thunder record to 20-3 and 8-0 in the Bi-County Conference.