By Fred Kroner
Mahomet-Seymour’s baseball team extended its winning streak to nine games on Wednesday (April 5), as Finn Randolph became the sixth Bulldog with a pitching win this spring and the fourth as the winner in a shutout when M-S blanked visiting Villa Grove, 10-0.
Randolph worked five innings, allowing two singles and two walks while fanning six batters. Mason Orton completed the shutout, throwing a scoreless sixth inning. He permitted a single and struck out two batters.
Cade Starrick sparked the offense, going 3-for-4 and driving in two runs.
Randolph also contributed two hits and crossed home plate twice. Braden Houchin belted a triple among his two hits.
Mateo Casillas stole three bases and scored twice. Tyson Finch also tallied two runs.
The Bulldogs and Blue Devils were scoreless until M-S pushed across one run in the third inning.
On Tuesday (April 4), the Bulldogs swept an Apollo Conference doubleheader at Lincoln, winning the opener, 14-3, and then following up with a 22-0 triumph in Game 2 as Alec Bergman fired a no-hitter.
Bergman (2-0) walked no one and struck out seven.
He was backed by an offense that featured two hits apiece from Blake Wolters, Carter Johnson and Orton. Johnson scored three runs as did Houchin.
Casillas, Randolph, Ben Wagner and Orton all scored two runs. Carter Selk delivered two RBI. Also knocking in two runs were Gavin Bailey, Finch and Matthew Orr.
In the opener at Lincoln, Selk drilled a double and a triple among his three hits. He tallied four runs and had three RBI.
Johnson knocked in four runs while teammates Houchin and Randolph each delivered two RBI.
Houchin and Randolph pounded three hits apiece. Johnson totaled two hits. Wolters ended with two hits and two runs scored.
Alex McHale pitched the first four innings and earned the win. He walked one and struck out three. Houchin finished with two scoreless innings and recorded three strikeouts.
On Monday (April 3), the Bulldogs rallied at home to defeat Effingham St. Anthony, 8-4.
Casillas pitched two innings in relief of Wolters and nabbed the win. He walked no one and fanned two batters.
With numerous major league scouts in attendance, Wolters pitched five innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. He walked one batter and fanned nine on a day his fast ball ranged between 95 and 98 mph.
He helped himself at the plate with two hits, including a home run. He drove in two runs.
Randolph also poked two hits.
Johnson ended with three RBI. Casillas tallied two runs.
M-S (9-1) returns to action on Friday (April 7) at Paxton-Buckley-Loda.
