RUSSELL — The Hoisington High School baseball team began the season strong, sweeping Russell in a doubleheader on Monday night.
The Cardinals used a squeeze play to take the lead late in both games, winning 11-5 in the lidlifter and 8-7 in the second game.
“It felt pretty good to win our first two games,” Hoisington head coach Tim Schremmer said. “I was happy with our focus for our first games out. It was certainly nice to be able to squeeze somebody this early in the season.”
In Game 1, Hoisington scored first, but Russell took an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-1 advantage.
The Cardinals chipped away at the lead and after four innings, the game was tied at five runs apiece.
“We had a big inning in the sixth,” Schremmer said. “We scored three runs and then scored three more runs in the seventh inning.
“It was a close game up until then. We were tied up, and I put on a squeeze play that scored a run. Then we were able to score a few more.”
The Cardinals got a full seven innings out of Kaleb Larson. Larson gave up five earned runs, walked three batters and struck out six.
Game 2, Hoisington trailed until the sixth inning, where it scored five runs.
“We went down early, but we kept chipping away at their lead,” Schremmer said. “In the sixth, we put together some base hits and then we were able to score some runs.
“Bryce Steiner put on another squeeze play. This one was actually a double squeeze and we got both the runners home.”
Dylan Bell and Colton Zink scored to give the Cardinals a one-run advantage and the win.
Hoisington hosts Great Bend on Thursday, April 5.


                                                                     — Kevin Price