ALBANY - The Black Hawk Warriors have their first 'W' of the season thanks to a strong pitching performance by sophomore Michael Walker.
Walker struck out 13 batters, including six looking, while allowing just four hits, two walks and a hit batter.
"I really thought Michael did really well today," Black Hawk head coach Lance Ray said after Black Hawk's 3-1 win over Albany Monday. "He got ahead in the count all game. He really found his location well."
Walker allowed a run right away in the first inning. Comets leadoff man Cody Schultz started with a single and stole second. With two outs, Schultz scored on a single to left by Josh Peters.
"I just figured that there was six innings left to go and a lot more game to play," Walker said. "Once I got loosened up, my arm felt good."
Walker struck out the side in the second, giving his team momentum for its big third inning.
"(The confidence) was definitely building," Walker said, adding that the victory could mean big things for a club that has just two juniors and no seniors. "Now everybody's confidence is going to be up. Maybe we can win some more games."
Black Hawk's eight and nine hitters walked to lead off the third and Jake Meier advanced the lead runner to third on a fielder's choice. During the next at-bat, Meier stole second, while the throw down on the steal went into center field, allowing the run to score and Meier to advance to third.
"We're a young team. That's a credit to these young guys that they are going up there and being selective and not chasing bad pitches," Ray said.
Connor Moore hit a two-out, two-RBI single to left to plate the final runs of the game.
"It's a little frustrating," Albany head coach Brian Dahl said. "(Our guys) felt like they were in the game, they were just a little emotionless. We're never out of the game, but for some reason we just seemed really intimidated up at the plate, almost like we were scared."
Walker then rang up Comets batters in 10 of the final 15 outs.
"I don't know what was wrong with us tonight. We looked like we were scared to swing a bat," Dahl said. "We need to take the bat off of our shoulders and we need to swing at good pitches."
There were 24 total strikeouts in the game, 12 of which were looking. Schultz started on the hill for Albany, striking out just one batter. Boomer Detra fanned 10 hitters in four relief innings.
In all, the Warriors had just two hits, Moore's single in the third and Meier's leadoff double to open the game. However, Black Hawk had no errors to Albany's one.
"It's huge. We lost a tough game to Argyle last Thursday, 2-0, and this was one of those 'how can we bounce back?' kind of games," Ray said. "These kids responded very well. They played great."
Walker struck out 13 batters, including six looking, while allowing just four hits, two walks and a hit batter.
"I really thought Michael did really well today," Black Hawk head coach Lance Ray said after Black Hawk's 3-1 win over Albany Monday. "He got ahead in the count all game. He really found his location well."
Walker allowed a run right away in the first inning. Comets leadoff man Cody Schultz started with a single and stole second. With two outs, Schultz scored on a single to left by Josh Peters.
"I just figured that there was six innings left to go and a lot more game to play," Walker said. "Once I got loosened up, my arm felt good."
Walker struck out the side in the second, giving his team momentum for its big third inning.
"(The confidence) was definitely building," Walker said, adding that the victory could mean big things for a club that has just two juniors and no seniors. "Now everybody's confidence is going to be up. Maybe we can win some more games."
Black Hawk's eight and nine hitters walked to lead off the third and Jake Meier advanced the lead runner to third on a fielder's choice. During the next at-bat, Meier stole second, while the throw down on the steal went into center field, allowing the run to score and Meier to advance to third.
"We're a young team. That's a credit to these young guys that they are going up there and being selective and not chasing bad pitches," Ray said.
Connor Moore hit a two-out, two-RBI single to left to plate the final runs of the game.
"It's a little frustrating," Albany head coach Brian Dahl said. "(Our guys) felt like they were in the game, they were just a little emotionless. We're never out of the game, but for some reason we just seemed really intimidated up at the plate, almost like we were scared."
Walker then rang up Comets batters in 10 of the final 15 outs.
"I don't know what was wrong with us tonight. We looked like we were scared to swing a bat," Dahl said. "We need to take the bat off of our shoulders and we need to swing at good pitches."
There were 24 total strikeouts in the game, 12 of which were looking. Schultz started on the hill for Albany, striking out just one batter. Boomer Detra fanned 10 hitters in four relief innings.
In all, the Warriors had just two hits, Moore's single in the third and Meier's leadoff double to open the game. However, Black Hawk had no errors to Albany's one.
"It's huge. We lost a tough game to Argyle last Thursday, 2-0, and this was one of those 'how can we bounce back?' kind of games," Ray said. "These kids responded very well. They played great."
