The 2011 Lansing baseball season started off in strong fashion Thursday afternoon.
The Lions used a barrage of hits, quality pitching and timely defense to defeat Bishop Ward 11-0 in the teams season opener.
“I thought we came out swinging the bat pretty well today,” Lansing head coach Harley Douglas said. “In the field we were a little tight and mentally we sort of had a letdown to start, but overall it was good to come out and get the win.”
After Lansing starter Scott Moore worked around two Bishop Ward base runners in the top of the first, the Lions struck first when Tyler Parsons stole home on a double steal in the bottom half of the inning.
Moore then sat the Cyclones down in order to start the second, which quickly led to the Lions blowing open the contest.
Lion Dan Vanschoelandt started off the Lansing second with a one-out hit and then scored following singles from Parsons and Zak Haller. Those two then crossed home moments later thanks to a Parker Gibson double down the right field line and a Dakota Smith fly ball that dropped for a hit.
Zac Harris capped off the five-run second with a single to right field that scored both Gibson and Smith.
“We had some good approaches and everybody did some good things at the plate today,” Douglas said.
Beginning the third inning, Bishop Ward collected two straight walks, but a Moore strike out followed by an inning-ending double play squashed the visitor’s threat.
A scoreless third inning for Lansing led to a similar situation for Moore as the Cyclones put two more baserunners on to start the fourth.
However, a big strikeout from Moore and another double play finished off the promising start for Bishop Ward.
“Those double plays were huge for us,” the Lion coach said. “One hit and its a two run or three run game. We have a new middle infield and so with Parker moving over we needed someone at second and I thought Zac (Harris) did a good job today.”
Escaping the Bishop Ward threats, the Lions permanently put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth when the squad posted another five run inning.
Three straight walks to Gibson, Smith and Harris allowed Moore to hit a two-run single to right field. A balk then pushed Harris home from third base and Moore to second, where he scored thanks to a Dan Vanschoelandt hit.
Vanschoelandt scored the final Lansing run when Zak Haller punched through a single.
Up 11 Matt Stratton replaced Moore to finish off the Cyclones, which he did in impressive style by striking out the side.
“Scott struggled with some control today that he didn’t last year but he has been working on that,” Douglas said. “He is a good kid and I thought he battled well, which is what you like too see. Matt was hitting his spots, had nice velocity and pitched really great today.”
Lansing’s next game is Monday, March 28, at Bonner Springs.
