Thursday night, the Lions were seeking to end their losing streak with a win over Monticello High School, and that’s exactly what they did. After a day off on Wednesday, the Lions improve to 9-3 on the year with a 6-0 win over the Mustangs. Senior, Tristan Snyder got the call for Louisa while Sophomore Samuel Lewis started on the mound for the Mustangs.
Senior, Kevin Jarrell led off the top of the first for the Mustangs with a groundout to the shortstop. Tyler Walker and Matthew Allen followed with back-to-back singles. The Mustangs failed to score a run in the inning after stranding two runners in scoring position. Austin Nicholas led off the bottom of the first for the Lions, nailing a single to center field. Bases were then loaded after back-to-back walks to Matt West and Lliam Grubbs. Jack McDonald hit a grounder back to the pitcher, who then turned a double play. Snyder then ripped a double to centerfield, scoring West and Grubbs. “I just felt it hit the bat,” said Snyder. “I just started running. I was just trying to make contact and went up there with a two strike approach.”
Dylan Zimmerman led off the top of the second for the Mustangs with a strikeout looking, Snyder’s second of the game. Walks to Steven Morgan and Sid Carver put runners at first and second, but Snyder worked out of the inning with no runs allowed.
Louisa’s bats came alive in the bottom of the second recording four hits in the inning. Nate King and Garrett Duerson led off with back-to-back singles. With one out, Nicholas recorded his second hit of the day to load the bases. Grubbs then nailed a base clearing double to left field to give Louisa a 5-0 lead over Monticello. A part of the Louisa rally was something very unexpected, Christmas songs. Snyder was heard whistling Christmas songs from the dugout throughout the game, which proved helpful for Louisa’s at bats. “I feel like whistling Christmas songs really gets into the other team’s heads,” explained Snyder. “It just pierces through everything. Once they’re in your head, you can't get them out. Hopefully they’ll walk a couple guys.”
Snyder continued his dominant pitching in the top of the third, allowing a walk and a single to the middle of the Mustangs order. With runners at first and second, Grayson Bush grounded out to end the inning, Louisa still leading 5-0. Monticello’s Sam Lewis pitched his first 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third with two groundouts and a strikeout. Snyder followed with his own 1-2-3 top of the fourth with his fourth strikeout of the night. The Lions put another run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, giving them a 6-0 lead over the Mustangs. Nicholas singled to the center fielder and advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt. Grubbs drew a walk and Nicholas later scored on a passed ball.
Snyder threw his second 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, recording his sixth strikeout of the game to hold Monticello’s offense scoreless through five. Junior Jake Huffman came in to relieve Lewis for Monticello in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving up back-to-back singles to Tyler Earley and Nate King. Huffman then struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning.
Snyder faced the minimum amount of batters in the top of the sixth, recording his seventh and eighth strikeouts of the game. Steven Morgan came into the game to pitch for the Mustangs in the bottom of the sixth, facing four batters, allowing a walk to Grubbs, however, Louisa failed to score another run.
Nicholas relieved Snyder in the top of the seventh, facing four batters and secured the win for the Lions. Snyder allowed only three hits and no runs through six innings, helped by first pitch strikes. “First pitch strikes are really important, explained Snyder. “Towards the end it was just making sure we put the ball in play. Gotta remember we have a team behind me. Put the ball in play, chances are they’ll get them out.” With only eight games left in the regular season, the Lions improve to 10-3 on the year and hope to continue their dominant season on Tuesday at Orange. Let’s go Lions!
