The College Heights Christian Cougars scored at least one run every inning during their 11-1 run-rule victory in five innings Thursday against Ozark 7 Conference opponent Verona.
The Cougars plated five runs in the first, one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth to end it on a Ben Thomas RBI single bringing home Kelton Welch from third, while Verona scored one in the fourth on a Kayden Cornelison single.
Sophomore pitcher Smoke Ezell claimed the win with one run (earned) allowed on six hits over five innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Meanwhile, at the plate, Ezell collected two hits, both doubles, and drove in two runs during a big day overall for College Heights’ normally starting catcher.
The Cougars have won three of their last four games and they scored 40 runs over that stretch with three 10-run performances, including 12 runs in a 14-12 loss against Pierce City.
Unlike an earlier game on April 4, when College Heights won 11-5 against conference and crosstown rival McAuley Catholic, the Cougars maintained a scoring pace for the entire game and earned the run-rule victory rather than having to play all seven innings.
“We started off fast with the bats and I felt like we hit the ball hard tonight and put the pressure on Verona,” College Heights coach Phillip Jordan said. “They made a few mistakes, and we were able to take advantage. Then, our pitcher Smoke did a really nice job of just being efficient and staying in the strike zone. Unlike the way that we had played the last few games, defensively we played really well. Of course, that makes a big difference.”
College Heights improved to 4-5 overall and the Cougars won both of their games this week, following Monday’s 6-4 win over Miller at historic Joe Becker Stadium. Miller was ninth in Class 2 in the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings released April 4.
“We were 2-0 this week, and you can’t ask for a better week when you win all your games,” Jordan said. “We still have a lot to play and we’re not going to be satisfied. We’re still working to get better, and we know that we have got some tough ones next week.”
College Heights returns to action Monday on the road against Lockwood and the Cougars also play Liberal on the road Thursday and Billings on the road Saturday. In fact, with Mount Vernon and Riverton next week also on the road, College Heights could play five consecutive road games.
On Thursday, Austin Miller joined Ezell with two hits and Jayce Walker, Josh Anderson, Kelton Welch, Caleb Evans, Thomas, and Phillip Thompson each had one.
Anderson and Welch each scored two runs and Evans and Thomas each drove in two, while Anderson, Miller, and Thompson each picked up one RBI.
Anderson, Welch, and Miller each stole two bases and Walker, Evans, and Thomas had steals as College Heights finished with nine for the game.
College Heights also worked five walks and was hit by three pitches from Verona pitchers Asher Freiburger and Cornelison.
Cornelison led Verona with two hits and Westin Shrum, Noah Freiburger, Alced Jimenez, and Tristan Reed rounded out Verona’s six-hit attack with one each.
