Schwindt paces Knights to win
Jaden Schwindt made quick work of the Tri County Cardinals on Wednesday at Athletic Park.
The Medicine Hat K of C Knights starting pitcher mowed through the order en route to an 8-3 victory to kick off Wednesday’s A American Legion Baseball doubleheader. While the Cardinals came roaring back with a 14-2 win to split the doubleheader, Knights head coach Lane Aman says the team seems to be trending in the right direction.
“Schwindt had a real quick pace to his game on the mound. When he’s working fast and getting ahead of hitters, that keeps our defence locked into the game. So our defence played well behind him and we’re starting to hit the ball a lot better,” said Aman, whose Knights sit at 6-15 on the season. “It seems to be a contagious thing that everyone is hitting at the same time. These guys are just feeding off each other, putting together good at-bats and then the guy behind him does the same thing.”
Schwindt — who held Tri County to three runs on five hits and four walks while fanning seven — added he quickly got into a groove on the hill after a few clean innings, which helped him power through the Cardinal lineup while the Hat bats went to work.
“It was nice to have the defence work out behind me,” said Schwindt. “The pace worked well for me. It helped me throw a lot of strikes and play well.”
Knights third baseman Kayden Berndt led the offence with 3 RBI in a 2-for-4 performance at the dish, while designated hitter Ayden Matycio was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI.
Cardinals reliever Tony Daley settled for the loss after allowing three runs on six hits through 2 2/3 innings, while right fielder Braedon Hutton led the offence with 1 RBI in a 2-for-4 outing.
Hutton stepped into the starting role for Game 2 and led the Cards back into the win column by holding the Knights to just two runs on two hits through five innings of work. Hutton also added 3 RBI.
Knights starter Brandon Hauck took the loss after allowing 14 runs — eight earned — on 14 hits through 4 1/3 innings. Matycio and Drew Niwa recorded Medicine Hat’s lone hits in the loss.
The Knights are back in action as hosts of the UCT A American Legion Baseball tournament this weekend. Aman says the weekend of action will be a great chance to get some recovering players back onto the diamond while allowing the rest of his team to tune things up entering the final month of the season.
“We have some guys who have been injured and the tournament will be a perfect chance to ease them in before we get back to conference games,” said Aman. “Tournaments are a good time to work on things. We can implement a couple different plays and stuff like that.”
Monarchs earn split
Late Tuesday, the Moose Monarchs came from behind twice to earn a doubleheader split against Great Falls.
They won the second game 11-10, getting two runs in the sixth. The Chargers scored six in their first inning but the host Monarchs got seven in their third. Cavan Kolody was 3-for-4 and Jack Suhai got the win in relief.