LEON — Humboldt High’s baseball team kicked off a busy week Tuesday with a pair of big wins, sweeping host Bluestem 16-1 and 24-3.
It was just the start the Cubs needed, head coach Mike Miller said, particularly on the pitching mound, because Humboldt has five games in three days on the schedule.
Mason Sterling shined on the mound in game 1, scattering seven hits in a five-inning, complete-game victory. He struck out seven, with 48 of his 74 pitches in the strike zone.
“Mason did everything we needed him to,” Miller said. “We got off to a fast start, putting up a lot of runs for him early.”
Humboldt plated three in the first, four in the second and six in the third inning to set the tone.
Mason Miller headlined a monster offensive output, doubling twice and tripling while driving in four and scoring four.
Ty Shaughnessy had a double among his three hits, three RBIs and four runs. Sterling singled twice, drove in a pair and scored three times. Kolton Hanson singled and doubled, Tucker Wrestler singled twice with two RBIs, and Gavin Gunderman had a triple. Zane Sanches singled and scored twice.
HUMBOLDT spotted Bluestem a 2-0 lead after the first, but closed with a kick, plating seven in the second, six in the fourth and 10 in the fifth inning.
Hanson paced the offense with three hits, two runs and three RBIs. Luke Coronado had a single and double with four runs, Gunderman singled twice with three runs and three RBIs, and Shaughnessy had a double with three runs and three RBIs. Weston Johnson added a single and a run scored.
Gunderman and Coronado shared the pitching duties. Gunderman pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two hits with a strike out. In relief, Coronado struck out four over two innings. Tucker Wrestler struck out the only batter he faced.
“Gavin and Luke gave us good innings and kept their pitch counts down to have them available later this week,” Miller said. “Our hitters had a great approach. We were much more aggressive early in the count and put some good swings together.”
Humboldt (3-3) was slated to play Chanute in a single game Wednesday before taking on Fredonia in a Thursday doubleheader.
