March 29, 2024

Buffaloes Dust off Wichita North to Win Home Doubleheader

Garden City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) The Garden City High School Baseball Team gave that glimmer of hope Coach Bill Wilson had been waiting on. Finally they let their potential show in handing a weary team Wichita North (6-2) the ninth ranked team in 6A their first two losses of the season Friday at Clint Lightner Field 13-0 in five innings and 5-2.

 

 

Game One Highlights

Buffaloes starting pitcher Eric Heimann went the distance in game one going five innings and allowing one hit, three walks and seven strikeouts. Redskins shortstop Darrius Russell the only one to get a hit off Heimann with a single. Heimann in last year’s start against North did not even make it past the second inning. Oh what a difference a year makes.

Heimann had plenty of help offensively. Third baseman Griff Brunson had a RBI single in the first off Redskins starter Hunter Shockley. A passed ball, error and Aric Rowland’s RBI single gave the Buffaloes (4-4) a four run lead in the second inning.

Garden was able to take advantage of four errors leading to three runs in a nine run fourth inning where fourteen men came up to the plate against Wichita North reliever Jordan Gomez. The big hits of the inning came Rowland had another RBI single and centerfielder Syrus Schwartz brought in two runs with a double. Garden took advantage of three walks in the inning and Daven Acker being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Of the 13 runs that crossed the plate three runs were earned.

Game Two Highlights

In game two Colton Snodgrass overcame his early troubles to pitch six solid innings for the Buffaloes, Aric Rowland and Griffin Brunson added RBI singles in leading a 5-2 win. Three errors from catcher Hunter Shockley on attempted steals of third pushed across two runs late for the Buffaloes. Garden stole nine bags in the double-header and had four of those steals in the nine run fourth inning of the first game.

Snodgrass wrapped up his day allowing two earned runs and six hits over six innings. Wichita North was held hitless over the last four innings.

Garden City Coach Bill Wilson Post-game Comments

Garden will have a pair of conference road trips. Tuesday they travel to Great Bend and the following Tuesday they meet another state ranked team in Hays.