Alden-Conger baseball team gets shut out for 2nd game in a row

 

ALDEN — The Knights have been on the receiving end of a shutout for two games in a row now.

The Lyle-Pacelli baseball team defeated Alden-Conger 13-0 Thursday in Alden. The loss brings the Knights record to 1-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Valley Conference. Martin County West previously shut out Alden-Conger 9-0 on Tuesday.

The Knights kept Thursday’s game relatively close through the first four innings, though, with the Athletics scoring just one run in each of the first, third and fourth innings.

“We played a nice four innings to start,” said Alden-Conger coach Sam Hintz. “(Lyle-Pacelli’s) hitters started to catch on to our pitching after that.”

Alden-Conger’s Gavin Steele was on the mound for just over five innings, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits. The sophomore also walked five and struck out six. Junior Dylan Lein pitched over an inning for the Knights, allowing four earned runs on three hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.

“Gavin Steele has showed a lot of progress from last year,” Hintz said. “This will just be another step for him in the right direction.”

Josh Majerus, Steele and Jacob Wallin each went 1-3 at the plate for the Knights, while Lucas Vanengelenburg went 2-3. Steele had the team’s only stolen base of the night.

“Their starting pitcher threw a gem of a game,” Hintz said. “Lucas V. had another good game with two hits and some good defense. We need to be more consistent at the plate.”

Next, Alden-Conger will play at 5 p.m. Monday at Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman.