HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High’s Cubs left a few too many base runners stranded for head coach Mike Miller’s liking Thursday.
It didn’t matter much.
Humboldt run-ruled visiting Erie, winning 10-0 and 12-0, in Humboldt’s first games ever at the new USD 258 sports complex.
“It was a special day; a fun day,” Miller said.
While Miller said Humboldt’s batters were pressing at times — “trying to do too much,” he said — they still put together several key rallies, while flashing some serious leather on defense.
None was flashier than Hunter Murrow’s brilliant play to end the second contest. He preserved the shutout by diving to his left to field a hard-hit ground ball with the bases loaded.
Murrow sprang to his feet and his throw beat the runner by a quarter of a step.
“With our defense, all our pitchers have to do is throw strikes,” Miller said.
THE BOTTOM OF the Cubs’ lineup was the primary catalyst in the opener, with batters 6 through 9 — Jake Haviland, Alex Murrow, Caleb D’Armond and Zach Vanatta — going a collective 6 of 9 with three walks and nine runs scored.
Murrow singled and scored on a sacrifice fly to begin a two-run second inning. He then walked with one out to kick-start a three-run fourth. D’Armond followed with a single and Vanatta walked to load the bases. Siemens singled in two runs with a single.
Haviland’s two-out single started the game-clinching rally in the bottom of the fifth. Murrow followed with a double, D’Armond singled, as did Vanatta. Hunter Murrow was next with single. Siemens’ single ended the game with the 10-run mercy rule.
Hunter Murrow had a single, Siemens singled twice, Caleb Vanatta had a single, Haviland had a single, Alex Murrow singled and doubled, D’Armond singled twice as did Zach Vanatta.
Siemens was masterful on the mound, allowing only one hit in five innings. He struck out six and hit one batter. He issued no walks.
