The Macomb High baseball team enjoyed a successful Saturday at Jim Sundberg Field in Galesburg winning a pair of contests.
The Bombers downed Sherrard 13-2 in five innings before defeating host Galesburg 14-10.
Macomb improved to 2-1 on the season. Sherrard slipped to 1-2, while Galesburg dropped to 1-3.
The victories were also the first varsity wins for MHS baseball coach John Ogle.
“Overall, it was a really good day for us,” said Ogle. “We’ve got some things to clean up, but lots of positives to take away and lots of confidence building moments for our guys.”
Against Sherrard, the Bomber offense scored all four innings it batted.
MHS scored three runs in the first and once in the second. Sherrard scored twice in the top of the third to cut the Bomber lead to 4-2.
But Macomb answered by scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning before adding four more in the bottom of the fourth.
MHS out-hit Sherrard 13-4 with the Tigers also committing three errors.
Nick Elbe had three hits, including a double and triple, knocking in two runs and scoring once.
Blaine Eddington had two hits, scoring twice with two runs batted in. Jake Ogle doubled twice, scoring twice with one RBI.
Isaac Leinbach knocked in two runs and scored twice, while Kaden Knupp also scored twice for the Bombers.
On the mound, Elbe (1-0) pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, striking out five.
Jake Ogle pitched the fifth, allowing one while striking out three.
Eli Matson homered and knocked in both Sherrard runs.
Harrison Curry allowed five earned runs on six hits in two-plus innings.
In their game against Galesburg, the Bombers used a five-run fifth in breaking a 9-9 tie on the way to the win.
Both teams tallied a ton of runs early. Macomb scored four runs in the first and second innings, only to see the Silver Streaks counter with five runs in the first and three in the second.
After a scoreless third inning, both teams added single runs in the fourth, leaving the team tied at 9-9.
After Macomb took the lead in the top of the fifth, Galesburg scored its final run in the bottom of the inning. But the hosts did not score again.
“I loved the way that we hung in and battled against Galesburg and kept throwing punches back,” said Coach Ogle. “It was our second game of the day and it was late. It would have been very easy for our guys to lay down and be happy with one win for the day, but they didn’t. They stayed engaged and kept having good at-bats and adding on runs.”
Galesburg out-hit Macomb 16-15. Elbe led the Bomber offense going 5-for-5, including a homer and double. He knocked in four runs and scored three times.
“Nick was fantastic. He had one of the best days that I have seen from a high school hitter,” said Coach Ogle. “He also did a really nice job on the mound for us against Sherrard. His velocity was there, the off-speed stuff looked good, and he was able to really keep hitters off-balance.”
Kaden Knupp, Jaxon Barclay and Leighton Lambert all added two hits and two runs batted in, while Eddington doubled, adding three RBIs.
“Our sophomores stepped up and gave us some big-time contributions,” said Coach Ogle. “Jake (Ogle) had a really nice day at the plate and on the mound. Kollin (Knupp) came in and gave us a clutch RBI single in his first varsity at-bat to give us a 9-8 lead.”
Ogle scored three runs, while Drew Watson, Kaden Knupp and Barclay each scored twice.
“Kaden (Knupp), Jaxon (Barclay), Blaine (Eddington) and Leighton (Lambert) also had really nice days at the plate for us, each picking up three hits,” said Coach Ogle. “I loved the at-bats that they put together and the way that they battled at the plate. They made every out difficult to come by.”
In his first varsity appearance on the mound, Tyler Schulz picked up the pitching victory in relief for the Bombers.
In three innings, he allowed one earned run on four hits. Schulz struck out three and walked two.
“He was incredible,” Coach Ogle said of Schulz. “They were just smoking balls up and down the lineup for the first four innings, then he came in and gave us three innings with only one run allowed.”
“He did a really good job locating and getting a lot of soft contact,” Coach Ogle added. “We threw him into the fire in a difficult situation to make his varsity pitching debut, and he absolutely came through for us.”
Eddington allowed five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in his one innings of work.
Barclay allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits in three innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Henry Ikrami had three hits and three runs batted in for Galesburg.
Ikrami, the fourth of five GHS pitchers, took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in one inning. He struck out one and walked one.
The Bombers return to action Thursday, playing their home opener against Limestone (2-0) at Phil Bradley Field.
On Friday, MHS will host Rushville-Industry (0-1) in another non-conference contest.
