Wolves snap 8-game skid
PEARCY — Lake Hamilton snapped its eight-game losing streak in style Thursday night.
The Wolves plated eight runs in the bottom of the first inning and rolled to a 10-0 win over visiting Hope (4-8, 1-5) to improve to 2-10 overall and 1-3 in the 5A/6A-6 blended conference.
“Today was big for us,” Lake Hamilton coach Mac Hurley said. “We had a good practice yesterday, got our work done early and had a little bit of fun. We haven’t played together as a team much this year. They really came out and got their business done today and that was huge.”
Aided by two Hope errors, Lake Hamilton batted through its entire lineup to take an early lead in the bottom of the first. Braden Qualls and Spencer Gracie each had one RBI, while Cole Plyler delivered a two-run single to give the Wolves a quick 8-0 advantage.
“It allows you to kind of relax a little bit more, but you still want to put that foot on the throttle,” said Hurley. “When you jump on somebody that quick, it sure helps everybody take a deep breath. They did a good job today and made quick work of them.”
Given ample run support, Gracie gave Lake Hamilton the pitching performance it had been seeking. The sophomore righthander allowed just two hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in a five-inning shutout.
“He was around the plate and he threw strikes,” Hurley said. “He pounded the zone and his breaking
stuff was working really well. He was hitting his spots with his fastball and that’s what we were looking for. He trusted his defense and they played well behind him. He did a good job today.”
After stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, the Wolves continued to wreak havoc on the bases to extend their lead in the bottom of the third.
Payton Winston and Qualls each drew a walk and combined for three stolen bases before senior Utah Aitken delivered a two-run single to push Lake Hamilton’s lead to 10-0 at the end of three innings.
The Wolves finished with 10 stolen bases in the game.
“That was just the way it played out,” said Hurley. “We need to take advantage of those situations. I thought we had done a decent job on the bases this season, but we really broke out on them today. We had a few new faces out there, but they did a good job.
“We’re playing a lot of young kids still, but my expectations of them are still high. I think if we can get a few wins here and there, we’ll get going. Finally getting that taste of a win again was big for us.”
Surrendering his first hit of the game in the top of the second, Gracie settled in for good by striking out the side in order in the top of the third.
The sophomore held the Bobcats in check over the last two frames, allowing just one hit while striking out three of the last seven batters he faced to complete the shutout.
Eight of Lake Hamilton’s nine starters reached base at least once in the game. Aitken led the way with one single and two walks in three plate appearances.
Qualls reached base in three of his four plate appearances, finishing with one single, one walk, one RBI and a team-high three stolen bases.
Nate Carter and Hunter Hellums each singled for Hope’s lone base hits. Zach Fields and Aldo Gonzalez combined to allow 10 runs on seven hits with five walks and no strikeouts in four innings pitched.
The Wolves open a grueling conference stretch Monday at crosstown rival Lakeside (14-3, 6-0). Lake Hamilton is then scheduled to host Magnolia (10-3,
5-1) on Tuesday before traveling to El Dorado (13-3,
2-1) on April 13.
“We just have to stay focused,” Hurley said. “I think our focus is our main concern. We have the talent, but we have to keep the focus. These young guys are coming around and I think they will continue to grow. I’m excited about them.”