It was a week to work on little things that can turn into big things. With no seniors’ games on the schedule for the Malcolm Legion baseball program, the juniors and reserve teams got to hone skills and try new things. The juniors had a 2-0 week while the reserves went 2-1.
“We were able to play almost everyone who suited up for the games,” Malcolm head coach Tanner Soderberg said. “That’s important to me at this point in a long season.”
The Malcolm reserves opened the week at home with a 12-0 win over Omaha Benson. Nolan Duzik had a big night as the sophomore-to-be went 3-for-3 at the plate while also getting the start on the mound and fanning three batters in two scoreless innings.
Mason Zegar was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs batted in, while Kenton McGill had two hits and two RBIs.
The reserves and juniors traveled north for a June 14 twin bill against the Dwight juniors. The reserves picked up where they left off earlier in the week by scoring 11 runs in the first inning on the way to a 17-0 rout of Dwight.
Miles McGill earned his second win of the season as he struck out the side to open the game. The Dwight pitching staff struggled to throw strikes, walking nine and hitting four batters.
The Malcolm juniors also held Dwight scoreless in a three-inning, 14-0 game. Owen Savicky went the distance, striking out six to earn his third win of the season.
In the two games at Dwight, Miles McGill went 5-for-7 at the plate with two doubles and six RBIs.
Malcolm finished its week by hosting a June 15 juniors and reserves doubleheader against Ashland. The juniors held off Ashland for a 6-4 win. The reserves lost 6-5.
Chase Smith tossed four strong innings for the juniors, striking out seven Ashland batters while allowing three earned runs.
“Chase will need to step in and be a number three or four starter for the high school team next year,” Soderberg said. “His innings this summer are big. He’s still figuring out how to pitch and do what’s important at the right times. But, he really competes on the mound.”
Preston Kucera got the start in the reserves game and struck out three in two innings.
“Preston is working through what all young guys do – learning how to pitch rather than throw,” Soderberg said. “Controlling the running game will be a priority this next month. Preston does a nice job in that area.”
The Malcolm seniors (8-2) return to the diamond this week with a June 17 trip to Omaha South (12-7) before visiting Lincoln Lutheran (2-3) on June 18 and Valparaiso (3-8) Friday, June 21. They finish the week with a Sunday, June 23, contest at Bellevue East (5-11).
The Juniors (6-0) will join the seniors at Lutheran (5-2) Tuesday night before hosting Blair (5-3) for a Thursday, June 20, doubleheader. They will also see Valparaiso (6-3) and Bellevue East (5-13).
The Reserves (5-1) get Omaha South (3-9) Monday before a Thursday trip to Springfield (8-4) followed by doubleheaders against Norris (4-4) and West Point (6-2) Friday and Saturday, June 21 and 22.
