Tuesday night was a historic night as Chillicothe High School baseball was carried over KCHI airwaves for the first time ever. The Hornets played the Benton High School Cardinals as the featured matchup.
Starting pitcher Max Wagers was in prime form on the mound to celebrate the occasion. The junior went five strong innings surrendering only one run on two hits. He racked up 8 strike outs.
At one point, Wagers sent down nine hitters in a row, and struck out the side in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
“My fastball was working at it helped that they were swinging at it, too,” said Wagers.
The Hornets pitcher added that he wants to improve the control of his curveball as he continues through the season.
In the bottom of the 4th, Benton’s Jack Kanacsky was hit by a pitch and was promptly plated with two outs when Myles Bachali doubled to left center field.
Benton’s starter, Korbin Lamb-Bodde had himself a day as well. The Cardinals senior hurled a complete game while giving up six hits and one earned run to go along with the four Hornets he punched out.
Manager Josh Lisle utilized the sacrifice bunt twice to try and stimulate the offense, “Early this season we’ve been struggling getting the ball in play. So, with those, I was trying to get runners in scoring position with guys behind them to be able and try to drive them in. It came up more this game than it has the first four of five games and we executed it pretty well”.
The Hornets tallied their first run in the 5th. Gage Leamer led off with a single and two batters later traveled all the way around the bases when Wagers doubled to right center field.
The game was tied at 1 heading into the 6th when Landon Winder found himself with runners on the corners after a pair of walks.
Benton’s Chris Coy was walked, then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt. On a pick-off attempt to second, Winder through the ball into center field. A few tosses later, Winder threw a wild pitch that scored Coy.
Jack Kanacsky was intentionally walked with Coy on third to create a double play situation, but during the wild pitch, advance to second. He scored when Myles Bachali doubled off Winder to right center field.
The Hornets threatened in the top of the 7th with runners reaching base. In total, the Hornets left eight runners on base in the game.
Leamer was the losing pitcher of record as Chillicothe fell short, 3-1. Their game Wednesday night against Lafayette High School will be carried on KCHI.
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