Cleansing an 0-5 start to the season with back-to-back wins, the Chanute Blue Comets defeated Parsons on the road on Tuesday in SEK League baseball action, 8-0, before beating the Humboldt Cubs at home on Wednesday, 1-0.
“Every year, no matter who we have coming back, we start with a gauntlet,” Chanute head coach Ryan Ortiz said. “But that’s what gets us ready for May. It feels good to get a win, and it’s great for the guys to have some confidence that they’ll do what it takes. We’re not a team that’s going to hit a ton of doubles, so we’ve just got to execute. That’s what we did against Parsons. Kris is always going to give us that outing, so we’ve got to just put up some runs and give some support.”
In Tuesday’s shutout win against the Vikings, Blue Comets ace Kris Harding tossed a complete game, striking out 13 batters and walking none while allowing four hits.
“Realistically, he’ll never walk many guys,” Ortiz said. “He’s consistent and mechanically very good. You’re going to have to run him out the game with your bat. He’s not going to put a bunch of guys on. He’s got very good command. That’s everything you ask. We’re lucky to have him. When he goes on the mound, everybody should feel good.”
Chanute notched 10 hits, including doubles from Colin Keating and Braddox Bancroft, in the win against Parsons. Center fielder Alijah Christy had three hits and two RBIs.
“He’s such a good hitter,” Ortiz said. “With him, and everybody, it’s between the ears. When you get over-anxious and start swinging at pitches you can’t handle or that you’re going to roll over, that’s what gets you in trouble.”
On Wednesday, Chanute walked it off in extra innings as a single from Lawrence Chaney scored Bo Small to give the Blue Comets the 1-0 victory.
Offense was at a premium on Wednesday with Chanute tallying five hits while Humboldt had six.
Chaney and Harding each had a pair of hits in the win. Christy was credited with the win, tossing the final two frames while allowing one hit.
For Humboldt, Cole Mathes ate the loss in relief on the hill. Logan Page gave a solid start for the Cubs, tossing seven frames of shutout, four-hit ball with 11 strikeouts.
Up next
Chanute heads to Paola on Friday.
