Conquering Riders show fight in wild week of high-scoring action
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It was a week of highs, lows, and relentless offense for the ACS varsity baseball team, highlighted by a near-impossible comeback and a dominant victory at the plate.
The Conquering Riders nearly pulled off one of the most dramatic rallies of the season on Saturday, erasing much of a 12-run deficit before falling just short in an 18-17 loss to Centennial.
After Centennial erupted for 13 runs in the first two innings, the Conquering Riders found themselves in a deep hole early. But ACS refused to fold, chipping away with patience at the plate and capitalizing on defensive miscues.
The Conquering Riders mounted a massive comeback, scoring in bunches despite collecting just four hits. A combination of walks, hit batters, and errors fueled the rally, as they drew 15 walks in the contest.
Tyler Gingerich led the charge with four RBIs, while Boston Mast, Ivan Yoder, Cody Kuhns, and Gingerich each recorded a hit. Grayson Schrock added three walks as part of the team’s disciplined approach.
Despite the comeback effort, Centennial held on behind nine hits, with Madden Ritter and Ryan Schimmel each driving in three runs. The Chargers also used aggressive baserunning to their advantage, swiping 12 bases.
Earlier in the week, the Conquering Riders experienced both ends of the spectrum.
On Tuesday, ACS exploded offensively in a 38-2 rout of Unity Christian. Joe Theriault powered the win with six RBIs, including a double and a triple during a massive third inning in which they scored 18 runs.
ACS piled up 20 hits in the game, with multiple players contributing. Grayson Schrock set the tone at the top of the lineup with three hits, while several teammates added multi-hit performances. They also showed patience, drawing 15 walks and stealing nine bases.
However, momentum proved difficult to sustain as on Friday, they were shut out by Rantoul, 10-0. A six-run third inning by Rantoul broke the game open, while Riders pitching struggled to contain the early offense. ACS was held hitless in the contest, while Rantoul pitcher Aiden Cheek struck out 12 over five innings.
The Conquering Riders also dropped a 12-2 decision to Cornerstone Christian earlier in the week, despite multi-hit efforts from several players including Kuhns, Schrock, and Kedrick Chupp. Cornerstone used a balanced offensive attack and a strong outing on the mound to pull away.
Through it all, ACS showed flashes of its offensive potential, combining power, speed, and plate discipline. They have consistently pressured opposing defenses, drawing walks and stealing bases at a high rate.
The team will look to build consistency as they return to action April 11 at Tuscola, followed by another road game at Casey-Westfield on April 13.