DARLINGTON - Baseball teams go through hitting slumps, but nothing is more perplexing to a coach than a game filled with errors.
Southwestern senior Derek Edmonds pitched a two-hit shutout and Darlington committed four errors that led to four runs in a 7-0 loss Friday.
"The big thing we have to take away from it is we have to cut down on our errors," said Darlington coach Matt Austin, whose team dropped to 1-10 overall and 0-8 in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League.
"We can't have errors and win. We didn't hit the ball or field it very well. We have to refocus on our hitting."
Southwestern (5-9, 4-4) opened the scoring in the second inning, Darlington's trouble starting when senior pitcher Tyler Black walked Keaton Kephart. Jacob Lucas lined a double to left and the Wildcats struck when Black's pickoff throw sailed past third baseman Jason Singer and Kephart scored.
Southwestern's Evan Kuhl, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, lined an RBI single to right in the sixth to give his team a 3-0 lead. The Wildcats scored two runs in the seventh after Kephart reached on an error, Kuhl's RBI double putting the game away.
Black pitched a complete game and allowed two earned runs on six hits. Edmonds also was 2-for-4 for the Wildcats.
"It's the best game that he has pitched this year," Austin said of Black. "His arm has bothered him this year. He controlled his pitches and that let him throw a little harder later in the game."
Darlington freshman Cole McDonald went
1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases. The only other hit for the Redbirds came from junior Griffin Heinberg, who had a single off the right field fence in the fourth to set up the Redbirds' best scoring opportunity. Senior Brandon Hardyman then reached on an error before junior Nate Fleming hit a comebacker to the pitcher. Heinberg broke late from third on the throw to first and was thrown out at home for an inning-ending double play.
Austin was surprised by the Redbirds' offensive struggles.
"We usually get a lot more solid hits," he said. "We need to start seeing the ball a little better. Offensively, I think more repetitions will help. I think that is where we will start on Monday."
Southwestern senior Derek Edmonds pitched a two-hit shutout and Darlington committed four errors that led to four runs in a 7-0 loss Friday.
"The big thing we have to take away from it is we have to cut down on our errors," said Darlington coach Matt Austin, whose team dropped to 1-10 overall and 0-8 in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League.
"We can't have errors and win. We didn't hit the ball or field it very well. We have to refocus on our hitting."
Southwestern (5-9, 4-4) opened the scoring in the second inning, Darlington's trouble starting when senior pitcher Tyler Black walked Keaton Kephart. Jacob Lucas lined a double to left and the Wildcats struck when Black's pickoff throw sailed past third baseman Jason Singer and Kephart scored.
Southwestern's Evan Kuhl, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, lined an RBI single to right in the sixth to give his team a 3-0 lead. The Wildcats scored two runs in the seventh after Kephart reached on an error, Kuhl's RBI double putting the game away.
Black pitched a complete game and allowed two earned runs on six hits. Edmonds also was 2-for-4 for the Wildcats.
"It's the best game that he has pitched this year," Austin said of Black. "His arm has bothered him this year. He controlled his pitches and that let him throw a little harder later in the game."
Darlington freshman Cole McDonald went
1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases. The only other hit for the Redbirds came from junior Griffin Heinberg, who had a single off the right field fence in the fourth to set up the Redbirds' best scoring opportunity. Senior Brandon Hardyman then reached on an error before junior Nate Fleming hit a comebacker to the pitcher. Heinberg broke late from third on the throw to first and was thrown out at home for an inning-ending double play.
Austin was surprised by the Redbirds' offensive struggles.
"We usually get a lot more solid hits," he said. "We need to start seeing the ball a little better. Offensively, I think more repetitions will help. I think that is where we will start on Monday."
