Kattau, Kush combine for 15 hits as Wildcats sweep Osawatomie

Louisburg senior Kolby Kattau recorded eight hits Thursday in the Wildcats’ sweep on the road over Osawatomie.

OSAWATOMIE — Runs certainly weren’t a problem for the Louisburg baseball team Thursday in Osawatomie.

The Wildcat bats caught fire as they combined to score 35 runs on 31 hits and rolled to a pair of 19-7 and 16-2 victories at Karl E. Cole Sports Complex. 

It was a pair of wins that came at the right time as Louisburg came in with a 3-game losing streak. The Wildcats improved their record to 5-7 on the season.

“Those were some much needed wins,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “With a loaded east side of the state in 4A, every win is needed and playing in the Frontier League you know it will be a battle every night. So to come out against Osawatomie and take care of business was great to see.”

Senior Kolby Kattau and junior Jackson Kush provided a bulk of the offensive spark for the Wildcats as the two players combined for 15 hits. 

Kattau had eight hits on the night, including a double, a triple and 3 RBIs from the leadoff spot. Kush did his damage at the bottom of the lineup with seven hits, a double and 4 RBIs.

“Overall we played well and were locked in from the first pitch,” Larson said. “Kolby and Jackson were seeing the ball really well all night. Having 15 hits between the two of them really gave our offense a much needed spark.”

Louisburg jumped out to an 8-1 lead early in the opener and finished the game off with an 8-run fifth inning to seal the run-rule victory.

Wildcat junior Corbin Hamman finished the game with 4 RBIs, while sophomore Declan Battle also had a pair of hits and 2 RBIs. Brandon Doles, Maverick Rockers, Sam Hastings and Mack Newell also drove home runs.

Hamman started the game for the Wildcats and gave up one run in three innings and struck out five. Hastings pitched the final two innings of relief.

That solid pitching carried over into the second game. Newell started and went four innings and gave up two runs and struck out five. Doles pitched the final three innings of relief and recorded six strikeouts.

“Corbin, Sam, Mack and Brandon all threw really well,” Larson said. “It was great to see them do well on the mound and shut the door on Osawatomie once we got the lead.”

Kush had four hits and three runs driven in to lead the Wildcat bats. Rockers also added a pair of doubles and had 3 RBIs.

Sophomore Brody McGreer also drove home three runs. Doles, Newell, Battle and Wyatt Holland also had RBIs.

With the game tied at 2-2, Louisburg scored three runs in the third and used a 7-run seventh inning to put the game away.

The Wildcats will try to build on their winning streak Thursday when they travel to Anderson County for a doubleheader, before going to Ottawa on Friday for a makeup contest.