HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — This week’s wins did not come as easily for the Kingsmen as those previous, but the men in the Gold and Black got the job done for two more wins.
First, the Kingsmen hosted the Joanna Hornets at Gardner-Webb University on Tuesday, winning 6-3. The game was meant to be played at York Comprehensive High School, but was moved due to rain. The Kingsmen jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning.
Angel Rary was excellent on the mound, pitching five innings in his first start for the summer team. The current academy member struck out four, earning the win.
The offense, while not as potent as last week, managed to create enough production to lead the Kingsmen to the win. Alan Benhardt helped things along with a double, his second of the summer.
Mason Ritzema threw out two runners from behind the plate, including one on a “strike him out, throw him out” double play to extinguish the Joanna rally in the seventh.
Then, on Wednesday in Hendersonville, assistant coach Nick Osborne took to the mound as the game’s starting pitcher. Osborne, who was pitching in-game for the first time in nearly a year, got through two and a third on the hill, striking out the final two hitters he faced.
The Honeycrisps and the Kingsmen went back and forth for nearly the whole contest, trading runs into the sixth inning. Going into the second-to-last inning, the home Honeycrisps had a one run lead.
However, Christian Burney came to the plate on a mission. He turned on a fastball and hit a two-run home run to left field, giving the Kingsmen the late lead. It was the first home run of the season by the Kingsmen.
After Ben France worked through the bottom of the sixth, the Kingsmen came back out in the seventh and put the game away. Jumping all over the Hendersonville pitching, Coach Hudak’s team slashed 11 runs onto the scoreboard to go firmly in front.
The Kingsmen have the weekend off, before coming back for three home games next week.
