By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
MORTONS GAP -- Austin Johnston toed the rubber for the Hopkins County Central baseball team Tuesday evening against Dawson Springs and threw a complete game, the Storm's third in as many contests.
Johnston struck out 14 Panthers and held Dawson Springs (0-9) scoreless until the sixth inning before eventually leading Central (10-5) to a 7-2 victory.
"I just told our kids in the dugout, 'I want you to recognize when (Johnston) gets finished how important this is to our team,' " Central coach Lee James said. "Any time you get a complete-game win, that's crucial to any baseball team and we've been blessed with a couple of those these last four, five days."
Austin's performance came just three days after Will Miller and Tyler Harris tossed back-to-back five-inning complete games in a doubleheader against Community Christian on Saturday.
Johnston began the game by striking out the first three Dawson batters and then provided his own support in the first inning with an RBI pop fly that fell in short left field to take a 1-0 lead.
On the mound, Johnston struck out at least two batters in every inning except the seventh.
"He's a bulldog," James said. "I challenged him before the game. I went to the bullpen and I just told him you've got four pitches on every batter. Within four pitches, I want them on the base or I want them out and he pretty well stuck to that."
Johnston struck out 14 Panthers and held Dawson Springs (0-9) scoreless until the sixth inning before eventually leading Central (10-5) to a 7-2 victory.
"I just told our kids in the dugout, 'I want you to recognize when (Johnston) gets finished how important this is to our team,' " Central coach Lee James said. "Any time you get a complete-game win, that's crucial to any baseball team and we've been blessed with a couple of those these last four, five days."
Austin's performance came just three days after Will Miller and Tyler Harris tossed back-to-back five-inning complete games in a doubleheader against Community Christian on Saturday.
Johnston began the game by striking out the first three Dawson batters and then provided his own support in the first inning with an RBI pop fly that fell in short left field to take a 1-0 lead.
On the mound, Johnston struck out at least two batters in every inning except the seventh.
"He's a bulldog," James said. "I challenged him before the game. I went to the bullpen and I just told him you've got four pitches on every batter. Within four pitches, I want them on the base or I want them out and he pretty well stuck to that."
The words helped Johnston maintain his focus on the hill.
"All I was thinking was here it is, if you can hit it, hit it because I'm coming right at you," Johnston said.
Central scored twice in the third on a Dustin Grant RBI double and Coleman Ladd RBI single.
In the fourth, Johnston struck for two more RBIs in a four-run inning when he laced a double, which fell at the base of the right-center field fence. Before that hit, Stephen Gordon provided a run-scoring single and Grant knocked in one on a fielder's choice. The Storm led 7-0 after four innings.
No Panther reached second base until the sixth inning. Johnston and Grant combined for two 'strike 'em out, throw 'em out' plays during the game to keep Dawson off the base paths.
Dayton Reed and Ethan Scott finally got Dawson on the scoreboard though as each recorded two-out RBI base hits in the sixth to pull within five. The Panthers recorded three hits and one batter reached on a walk to create the threat.
Dawson coach Adam Locke said his team needs to work on manufacturing a consistent effort at the plate to be competitive.
"Offensively, we're just not where we need to be right now," he said. "Plate discipline is hurting us. We've been trying to focus in practice offensively, but we haven't been on the field enough with all this rain...We're getting better. We're finding some guys that are moving the ball."
For the Panthers, Brett Cobb and first-year player Carson Labrado each finished with 2-for-3 days.
"(Carson's) come a long way," Locke said. "I love his mentality toward it. He's a heady kid. He thinks about the game and breaks it down, which I love. He's constantly asking me questions and staying at the field until seven or eight o'clock at night."
Offensively, Johnston posted a team-high two hits and three RBIs for Central. Others with hits included Grant, Ladd, Stephen Gordon and Micah Rorer.
The Storm next play at noon Saturday at Community Christian in the first of a doubleheader while Dawson returns to action 5:30 p.m. Friday at Butler County.
Dawson (0-9) 000 002 0 - 2 6 6
Central (7-5) 102 400 X - 7 6 2
WP: Austin Johnston
LP: Ethan Scott
"All I was thinking was here it is, if you can hit it, hit it because I'm coming right at you," Johnston said.
Central scored twice in the third on a Dustin Grant RBI double and Coleman Ladd RBI single.
In the fourth, Johnston struck for two more RBIs in a four-run inning when he laced a double, which fell at the base of the right-center field fence. Before that hit, Stephen Gordon provided a run-scoring single and Grant knocked in one on a fielder's choice. The Storm led 7-0 after four innings.
No Panther reached second base until the sixth inning. Johnston and Grant combined for two 'strike 'em out, throw 'em out' plays during the game to keep Dawson off the base paths.
Dayton Reed and Ethan Scott finally got Dawson on the scoreboard though as each recorded two-out RBI base hits in the sixth to pull within five. The Panthers recorded three hits and one batter reached on a walk to create the threat.
Dawson coach Adam Locke said his team needs to work on manufacturing a consistent effort at the plate to be competitive.
"Offensively, we're just not where we need to be right now," he said. "Plate discipline is hurting us. We've been trying to focus in practice offensively, but we haven't been on the field enough with all this rain...We're getting better. We're finding some guys that are moving the ball."
For the Panthers, Brett Cobb and first-year player Carson Labrado each finished with 2-for-3 days.
"(Carson's) come a long way," Locke said. "I love his mentality toward it. He's a heady kid. He thinks about the game and breaks it down, which I love. He's constantly asking me questions and staying at the field until seven or eight o'clock at night."
Offensively, Johnston posted a team-high two hits and three RBIs for Central. Others with hits included Grant, Ladd, Stephen Gordon and Micah Rorer.
The Storm next play at noon Saturday at Community Christian in the first of a doubleheader while Dawson returns to action 5:30 p.m. Friday at Butler County.
Dawson (0-9) 000 002 0 - 2 6 6
Central (7-5) 102 400 X - 7 6 2
WP: Austin Johnston
LP: Ethan Scott
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