Tigers freshman team earns victory over Bronaugh

Nevada Tigers starting pitcher, southpaw Peyton Denney, delivers a pitch Tuesday evening at Lyons Stadium. (Photo by Matthew Resnick/Daily Mail)

The Nevada Tigers freshman baseball team opened its season Tuesday with a 9-2 (five inning) victory over the visiting Bronaugh Wildcats.

Bronaugh starting pitcher Joe Mader experienced some control issues early, hitting Will Johnson and walking Logan Bradley in the bottom of the first inning. Johnson and Bradley eventually came around to score on wild pitches as Nevada led 2-0 after one inning of play.

The Wildcats picked up their first hit of the game via an infield single off the bat of sophomore Max Ellis. Ellis worked his way over to third base courtesy of a wild pitch, followed by a stolen base. Ellis however, was stranded at third after Tigers starting pitcher Peyton Denney struck out Dallas McIntire to end the inning.

Denney breezed through the top of the third, striking out Gabe McIntire, Mader, and Kolten Earnest as Nevada maintained its 2-0 advantage.

Johnson, the Tigers starting catcher and two-hole hitter, led-off the bottom of the third with a single. Johnson then stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. With Bradley at the plate, Johnson scored on a wild pitch, which was also ball four, as Nevada went in front 3-0.

With 1-out in the inning, Caleb Longobardi smacked a base hit up the middle, scoring Bradley to put Nevada on top 4-0. A fielding error resulted in Longobardi advancing to second.

Second baseman Jonah Brus later plated Tanner Gotschall (courtesy runner for Longobardi) via a sacrifice bunt as the Tigers increased its lead to 5-0.

Bronaugh pitcher Joe Mader delivers a pitch in the second inning of the Wildcats road contest against the Nevada Tigers, Tuesday evening at Lyons Stadium. (Photo by Matthew Resnick/Daily Mail)

In the bottom of the fourth, leadoff hitter Jaren Powrie punched a double down the left field line, plating Jayden Ast to give Nevada a 6-0 lead. Powrie advanced to third via a throwing error. Powrie later scored on a wild pitch, putting Nevada up 7-0.

After reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, Johnson came around to score on a wild pitch, staking the Tigers to an 8-0 lead. The Tigers added one more run in the inning as Brus singled, scoring Longobardi. The Tigers led 9-0 with four innings in the books.

Bronaugh Wildcats sophomore Bradley Evans lays down a bunt. (Photo by Matthew Resnick/Daily Mail)

With one out in the top of the fifth and facing Nevada relief pitcher Kody Yohe, Dallas McIntire reached base on an infield single. McIntire then proceeded to swipe second and third base. With Mader at the plate, McIntire crossed home plate after escaping a run-down ---- for the Wildcats first run of the contest.

Later in the inning, with Mader on third base, Earnest grounded sharply back to the pitcher, scoring Mader from third, as Bronaugh trailed 9-2. The game concluded with a Yohe strike out of Justin Hudson.

Junior varsity

The Nevada Tigers junior varsity baseball team topped Warrensburg 3-1 Monday at Lyons Stadium to improve to 1-0.

Upcoming NHS schedule

* 3-24: Varsity and junior varsity vs. Carthage at Lyons Stadium, 4:30 p.m.

* 3-25: Freshman team doubleheader @ Neosho.

* 3-28: Varsity and junior varsity vs. Kansas City O'Hara at Lyons Stadium, 4:30 p.m.

* 3-29: Varsity and junior varsity @ Kansas City Center, 4 p.m.

* 3-30: Freshman team vs. Carl Junction, 4 p.m.

* 3-31: Varsity and junior varsity @ Warrensburg, 4:30 p.m.