Wildcats pick up sweep over Anderson County

Louisburg junior Maverick Rockers races around third to score the game-winning run Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader with Anderson County at Lewis-Young Park.

Fresh off two losses against Ottawa earlier in the week, the Louisburg baseball team had a chance to make up for those setbacks Thursday when it hosted Anderson County.

The Wildcats made up for it in a big way.

Louisburg got the sweep over Anderson County in a pair of vastly different games. The Wildcats defeated the Bulldogs 1-0 in the opener, then in the second game, the offense came to life in a 13-2 victory.

“That sweep was really big for us,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “They’re a solid team, especially with their game 1 starting pitcher on the mound. It was nice to see the guys come out and play up to their potential.”

Louisburg (8-7) got some late game heroics to help lift them to that one-run win.

Junior Kolby Kattau pitched a complete game shutout as he allowed no runs on two hits over seven innings and struck out five.

At the plate, senior Matt Madison came up big for the Wildcats as he delivered a game-winning double in the bottom of the sixth that scored Maverick Rockers and it would be the only run the Wildcats needed.

Madison had three of the team’s five hits, including a pair of doubles, while Cade Driskell and Rockers each singled.

“That game 1 win was huge,” Larson said. “We battled in the field and at the plate the whole game. He was a good pitcher and we stuck with our approach and finally pushed one across. Matt swung it really well and all night. Once he hit that double to score Maverick I knew we had them. 

“Kolby was lights out on the mound. Getting that one run was all he needed to finish it in the top of the seventh. All around we played great and it showed on the scoreboard.”

In the nightcap, the Wildcats jumped on Anderson County from the start as they scored three runs in the first, one in the second, two in the third and then broke the game open with a 7-run fourth.

Kattau led the Wildcat bats with a 3-hit performance, including a double and 2 RBIs. Rockers, Madison and Trevin Lohse each had two hits, while Rockers, Lohse and George Reichart all had a double.

Rockers, Reichart and Driskell each finished the game with 2 RBIs. Brandon Doles and Mack Newell each had a hit and a run driven in.

On the mound, Rockers got the start and went four innings to pick up the win as he gave up two runs and struck out three. Lohse came on in relief and pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

“In game two we settled down at the plate and did we we always do,” Larson said. “The guys were patient and got a good pitch to hit the whole game.”

Louisburg will try to keep its winning ways going tonight when it travels to Eudora for one game. First pitch is set for approximately 6:30 p.m.

Wildcats swept by Ottawa in doubleheader

Last Tuesday, Louisburg found itself in a pair of back and fourth contests with Ottawa, and unfortunately for the Wildcats, came out on the losing end in both.

Ottawa held on for a 9-8 victory in the first game, before winning the nightcap, 11-7.

“Against Ottawa I was really impressed with how the guys battled,” Larson said. “We had some costly errors that ended up being the difference in the game. The guys never gave up though and that was huge. Ottawa is always good and to compete with them like we did was great. I’m excited to see where we go as we clean up some of those mistakes.”

Mistakes did haunt the Wildcats as they committed 10 errors in the two games.

In the opener, the Wildcats found themselves down 6-0 in the third inning before scoring four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Louisburg was down 9-6 going into the final inning, and scored a pair of runs in the seventh, but could get no closer.

Driskell had a big day at the plate with four hits and 3 RBIs, while Doles added two hits and 2 RBIs, including a double.

In the second game, Ottawa jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the third inning and after six errors contributed to several of those runs.

Kattau, Madison and Reichart each finished with a pair of hits, while Driskell drove home two runs.