LINCOLN — Ellinwood High School pitcher Tyler Knop wrote another chapter in the Eagles’ baseball history with the first shutout in school history — 2-0 over Lincoln High School Tuesday.
Knop worked a masterful six-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and 101 pitches. Knop worked his breaking pitches and off-speed assortment to keep the Leopards off balance. Lincoln’s Drew Biggs doubled twice, both times with two out. Knop stranded two baserunners in the seventh inning, retiring Colin Obermeuller to end the ballgame.
Ellinwood baseball coach Doug Bender guaranteed that the Eagles would be improved. The Eagles were winless last year until the first regional game.
ELLINWOOD 2, LINCOLN 0 (game 1) — Lincoln pitcher Darren Ammon matched Knop with five shutout innings and 13 strikeouts.
The Eagles broke through in the sixth inning. Knop doubled to lead off the sixth inning. David Hammeke singled home Knop and Kodie McFarren singled home Hammeke after a stolen base.
Ellinwood’s defense handled 13 chances with no errors.
LINCOLN 11, ELLINWOOD 5 (game 2)— The Eagles led 4-1 after two innings, but Lincoln scored 10 runs in the next four at-bats.
Ellinwood’s Kyler Doll scored on a hit-by-pitch against Todd Hamby. Hammeke scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead. Woodson Corbett scored on an error and Hammeke’s single scored Ryan Niles, but centerfielder Hunter Meier gunned down Doll at home for a momentum-swinging play.
After Lincoln tied the score 4-4, Niles scored on a wild pitch for a 5-4 lead after 31/2 innings.
Relievers Kyler Doll and Hammeke failed to earn defensive support as they combined to yield eight unearned runs in five innings. The Eagles’ pitchers yielded six walks with three hit batters and five wild pitches. Lincoln scored the go-ahead runs on wild pitch and passed ball.
The Eagles play at home April 3 against Minneaola.
Ellinwood 000 002 0 — 2 7 0
Lincoln 000 000 0 — 0 6 1
Knop and Niles. Ammon, Uhl (6) and Biggs. W—Knop, 1-0. L—Ammon, 0-1. 2B—E—Knop, Wondra; L—Biggs 2.
Ellinwood 220 100 0 — 5 5 4
Lincoln 103 334 x — 11 6 4
Wondra, Shumate (1), Herrman (3), Doll (4), Hammeke (5), and Niles. O’Hare, Wiebke, Uhl and Biggs. W—Uhl, 1-0. L—Doll, 0-1. 2B—E—Knop, Wondra; L—Biggs 2.