Badgers Hit, and Get Hit, Pounding Mingus 22-8

Photo: Ivan Schuster hit his second homerun of the season in the Badgers big 11 run fifth inning

The Prescott Badgers pounded the Mingus Marauders 22-8 in a game that saw Prescott get 14 hits and hit 8 times at the plate. All nine Badgers recorded a hit and six were hit.

Photo: Cooper Magnett crosses home plate

The Badgers hitting parade saw Cooper Magnett lead the team with three hits including a double, Luke Tobin, Nick Martin, and Travis gates all had RBI doubles, but the big blow came from Ivan Schuster who hit a shot off the scoreboard in centerfield for a homerun. Schuster hit a triple in his previous at bat.

Schuster said about the home run, “After a couple of ground balls I was ready to barrel up. I got into a good count at 3-1 and was looking for a fast ball and I got it. It just took off which is a really good feeling.”

There are hits and then there is getting hit. The getting hit department was led by Adrian Sanderford who got plunked in his first three plate appearances before finally getting a chance to swing the bat and getting a hit. Sanderford said, “That was crazy. I was really getting sick of it. I mean how many times could they possibly hit me. I would much rather hit the ball and make some things happen that way.”

Photo: Billy Horn on the mound

Billy Horn picked up the win allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Matt Hepperle came in before Kevin Lampe finished the game off that only went five innings.

Billy Horn, who celebrated his 17^th birthday with the win, said, “I didn’t pitch my best, but I just want to go out there and throw strikes. All the credit today goes to the guys getting all the hits and scoring the runs.” The pitchers mound was an issue for all the pitchers in the game. Horn said, “Yeah it was rough out there. Having half the rubber sticking up isn’t a good situation to try and throw, but you have to find a way to work around it.”

The Badgers roughed up all four Marauder pitches and started off right away sending all nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs in the first. Nick Martin was the first of many hit batters, Luke Tobin walked, Adrian Sanderford took his first of three hits’ this one in the midsection, to load the bases. Cooper Magnett’s walk gave him an RBI scoring the first run. A wild pitch scored the second run, and Colton Champion got the first base hit to center, scoring two more for a 4-0 lead.

Mingus got one back in the bottom of the first when Derrick Alvarez grounded out to score Kade Pusl who had doubled. The second inning was quiet for both teams before the bats got going again in the third.

Sanderford got plunked in the helmet but after being cleared by the training staff, remained in the game. Magnett singled followed by Champion getting hit to load the bases. A double play scored a run as the Badgers led 5-1.

The Marauders got the run back as Manuel Munoz singled in Alvarez and it was 5-2 after three innings.

The fourth inning the Badgers would break the game open to go on top 11-2. Schuster ripped a triple and scored on Patterson’s single. Martin walked, and a new pitcher, XZayvier Buckner came in for Mingus and was welcomed by Tobin who ripped a two RBI triple. Magnett followed with an RBI single. Travis Gates doubled in Magnett after Sanderford reached base again by getting hit by a pitch.

Mingus came right back scoring five to get within 11-7 on a pair of two RBI singles by Carter Wacker and Zaiden Ballesteros.

The Badgers came back in the fifth sending 15 batters to the plate and scoring 11 runs. Ivan Schuster led off the inning with his solo blast to center creating a thundering boom as the ball bounced off the scoreboard. Martin smacked a double. Tobin reached on an error, then Sanderford finally was able to use his bat, hitting an RBI single to right. Magnett was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Colton Champion picked up an RBI single. Gates, then Patterson were both hit by a pitch resulting each getting an RBI. Schuster walked picking up an RBI. Martin had his second hit in the inning with and RBI single. Tobin doubled in two. Sanderford hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI and Magnett closed things out with an RBI double.

Mingus picked up one more run as the game ended after five innings.

Prescott has three players hitting in the top ten in the 4A Division and four players hitting over .500 on the season. Nick Martin .558, Luke Tobin .554, Cooper Magnett .548, and Adrian Sanderford who is just outside the top ten with a.510 average.

The #11 Badgers improved to (8-2) in the GCR and (13-5) overall and will host Bradshaw Mountain on Wednesday and Mingus on Thursday this week.

PRESCOTT BADGERS 22, MINGUS MARAUDERS 8

Innings- 123 4 5 – R H E

Prescott 401 6(11 )- 22 14 0

Mingus 101 5 1 – 8 12 1

WP:Horn

LP:Xzavier

GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS

School- W-L W-L

Bradshaw Mountain 8-1 17-4

Prescott 8-2 13-5

Flagstaff 7-4 16-9