Knights Jr. High Baseball Conference Champs
ALAH JH Baseball Knights Are JHOC Season Champions!! The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond jr. high Knights baseball team defeated the Villa Grove Blue Devils on Monday, September 16, 15-3 to finish the regular Jr. High Okaw Conference baseball season undefeated and claim the conference season title. Pictured here in front: Daxton Stutzman, Layne Tiffin, Carter Fleming, Jace Burnett, Bowyer McGrath, Jacoby Burnett, Griff Ponder, Drake Hopkins, Abel Lat. In back; Head Coach David McGrath, Brodie Carter, Carson Lane, Jaleb Burnett, Colton Snyder, Greyson Yoder, Donovan Vanausdoll, Griffin Hilton, Jase Kingery, Dustin Snyder, Elijah Forman, and Assistant Coach Spencer Kirby. Photo by Sally McCarthy
The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond Jr. High Knights baseball team finished the regular Jr. High Okaw Conference baseball season undefeated and claimed the 2024 conference season title .
In a non-conference game on Thursday, ALAH lost to ACS Conquering Riders 5-4 on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning even though they once led by four runs.
The Knights got on the board in the bottom of the third inning after Jacoby Burnett grounded out, and Jace Burnett hit a sacrifice fly, each scoring one run.
The Conquering Riders captured the lead, 5-4, in the top of the seventh after a single and a sacrifice fly, each scoring one run.
Burnett took the loss for ALAH as he went one inning, surrendering two runs (zero earned) on two hits, striking out none and walking one. Donnie Vanausdoll led things off on the hill allowing one hit and zero runs over three innings, striking out nine and walking two.
Griffin Ponder, Burnett, Burnett, and Jase Kingery each drove in one run for ALAH as Griffin Hilton went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the team in hits and Kingery led with two walks as they accumulated six total. Vanausdoll stole two bases.
On the road at Sullivan on Tuesday, Knights Donnie Vanausdoll collected five hits in five at bats, as they defeated the Redskins 12-8. Vanausdoll tripled in the second inning, doubled in the seventh inning, singled in the first inning, and singled in the fourth inning.
ALAH opened the scoring in the top of the first thanks to two singles when Jace Burnett singled, scoring one run. Sullivan tied the game in the bottom of the first on an error, a ground out, and a single. A ground out by Jacoby Burnett gave ALAH the lead, 4-3, in the top of the second.
Jaleb Burnett started on the hill for the Knights as he surrendered two hits and three runs (zero earned) over three innings, striking out one and walking one. Griffin Hilton, Burnett, and Bowyer McGrath each appeared in relief for ALAH.
ALAH accumulated 16 hits in the game as Hilton drove the middle of the lineup, leading the team with three runs batted in going 3-for-5 on the day. Burnett, Burnett, and McGrath each collected multiple hits as well and Hilton stole two of the seven totaled bases.
The Villa Grove Blue Devils hosted the Knights on Monday in the final conference game of this season and were defeated 15-3 after Knights have big third inning.
ALAH scored eight runs in the third inning on a dropped third strike scoring one run, Abel Lat drew a walk, scoring one run, Donnie Vanausdoll drew a walk, scoring one run, Jacoby Burnett singled, scoring one run, Griffin Hilton doubled, scoring two runs, and Jaleb Burnett hit a sacrifice fly, scoring two runs.
The Knights got on the board in the top of the first inning after Burnett walked, Hilton doubled, and Villa Grove committed an error, each scoring one run. The added one run in the second inning after Jacoby Burnett grounded out, making the score 4-0.
Vanausdoll earned the win for ALAH giving up zero hits and one run over two and one-third innings, striking out six and walking three.
Hilton and Vanausdoll each collected two hits for ALAH and Hilton and Vanausdoll each drove in three runs. Lat led the team with three walks. Lat, Bowyer McGrath, and Vanausdoll each stole multiple bases as they totaled 10 stolen bases in the game.
