Kosciusko was hitting on all cylinders in the first game after spring break, an 11-1 victory over Leake Central Monday.Offense – The Whippets scored in every inning of the five-inning game.Pitching – Parker Ryals and Connor Wallace combined on a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and no walks.Defense – No errors.The current issue of Sports Illustrated has an article about the offensive ineptitude of many pitchers. Nobody told Ryals and Wallace.Ryals keyed the Whippets four-run first with a bases-loaded single, plating two runs. Wallace led off the fourth with a home run.Coach Derrik Boland said his team is in a “good place” as it heads into the meat of the schedule. “We're getting through some of the little battles that we faced early on,” he said. “We were walking too many people. It hurt us in a few games.”For the first time, the Whippets did not issue any free passes.Leadoff man Kaylan Powell was a spark, going three for three with three runs scored. His single started the first inning rally, then he led off the second with a triple. It is not often a player reaches third on a ball into the left field corner, but Powell used his high-octane speed to get there.“He understands what I'm asking of him and what the team needs of him,” Boland said. “He has a ton of speed. It's a game changer for us having a guy like that in the leadoff spot that can hit.”Ryals went the first four innings, allowing a run on two hits, with seven strikeouts. Wallace struck out the side in the fifth.With an 8-1 lead through four innings, Boland decided to make the change to save innings for Ryals. “Parker Ryals is going to throw a lot of innings for us. The game wasn't over, but I felt like we could make a change,” said the coach.It also gave Boland the opportunity to see Wallace, who suffered with arm problems last year. “He's finally back full speed and we needed to see him on the mound,” Boland said.Based on what he saw, he expects Wallace to be valuable as a reliever. “He can run it up there in the mid to upper 80s and he has a really good breaking ball,” said the coach. “He's an arm we need, and I'm glad he's back.”Kosciusko closed out the game under the 10-run rule with three in the bottom of the fifth.The victory improved the Whippets' Region 4-4A record to 2-0. They have a rematch with Leake Central on the road Friday, weather permitting.
