HARTINGTON — The Senior American Legion team took to the field for the second time this season last Wednesday. They made quick work of the contest, earning a 15-0 win over visiting Randolph.
Lukas Wortmann started on the mound once again for Hartington, forcing three straight groundouts in the first inning.
It didn’t take Hartington long to put a run of their own on the board, as Breiton Whitmire hit a leadoff double and Carson Arens brought him home on a groundout.
Wortmann struck out the first batter in the second frame before Randolph hit a deep fly ball to center, but a good relay by Hartington, shot down the base runner at third base. The inning ended on a groundout back to the pitcher.
In the bottom of the second, with one out, two batters reached base on walks, but Hartington was unable to score. Jaymison Cattau lined a ball to the first baseman who stepped on first for a double play to end the inning.
Wortmann forced another groundout in the third, and then got two consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
Hartington turned it on in the bottom of the third, scoring nine runs. It started with two walks followed by a popout. Jaxson Bernecker then doubled to right field, scoring one runner, another two walks and a dead ball scored another run, leaving the bases loaded. A wild pitch moved everyone up a base. Jaelen Lammers then hit a two RBI single, bringing home two runs. Lammers was then picked off for the second out. After a walk, Whitmire hit a triple to bring in a run. Whitmire scored on a passed ball and Carson Arens hit into a groundout to end the long inning.
It was a quick top of the fourth as Whitmire came in to pitch and got three strikeouts in row.
The first five batters reached base for Hartington in their half of the fourth frame thanks to four walks and a single that brought home two more runs. Brady Hochstein popped out, but a walk and a pair of singles brought home the 15-0 victory after four innings, thanks to the run-rule.
Carson Arens collected a walk off hit, Lukas Wortmann toed the mound to start the game, finishing with three strikeouts and just 29 pitches across three innings to earn the win.
The team will hit the diamond hard this week, they play seven games starting with a Tuesday contest against Ponca. They end the week on Friday and Saturday with a Tournament.