The Grace Christian baseball team began the season 2-1, with wins over Starkville Christian and Discovery Christian and a tough loss to Kemper Academy.
“We have played well to have lost as many starters as we lost from last year,” said coach Ralph Goss. “We have a lot of improvement to do. You get better as you play games and we have had two or three games rained out. We just need to be on the field. I think we will compete well.”
The Eagles had 13 hits, all singles, in a season-opening 13-1 win over Starkville Christian. Five players had two hits each – Wes Agnew, Clay Crowder, Brandon Mast, Kyle Bontrager and Isaac Miller, who drove in four runs, Mast was the winning pitcher, allowing two hits over five innings, with seven strikeouts.
Kemper Academy scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth for an 8-7 win. Grace Christian loaded the bases in the seventh, but was unable to score.
The Eagles had five hits, led by Mast, with two singles, two runs scored, one RBI and two stolen bases. Mast took the loss in relief of Alex Taylor.
Grace Christian had only three hits against Discovery Christian, but took advantage of six hit batters, four walks and four unearned runs for a 7-3 victory.
Crowder went the distance, allowing three hits and one earned run, with six strikeouts. Borntrager drove in two runs, Mast scored three and Grant Bontrager scored twice.
The Eagles played Starkville Christian Tuesday, have a home game with Scott County Home School Thursday, are at Hebron Academy Friday and will be home Saturday against Discovery.
