Eudora baseball bounces back from loss to Spring Hill, trounces Santa Fe Trail in doubleheader sweep

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports, File Photo

Eudora’s Cooper Burling takes off toward first base after hitting the ball into the outfield during a baseball game on March 30 against Bonner Springs at Eudora High School.

The Eudora Cardinals showed their resiliency with a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Santa Fe Trail Chargers on April 16, after coming off a stinging 16-1 loss against Spring Hill two days earlier.

Eudora took the first game 12-2 and capped the evening with a 13-3 win, improving to 5-5 on the season.

“They’re starting to believe in each other,” Eudora head coach Landon Harper said after the convincing wins over a Santa Fe Trail team which entered this matchup with an 8-1 record.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opener, courtesy of a bases-loaded walk and a Cooper Burling two-RBI double.

The Chargers trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the second, but Eudora replied with four runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Ethan Ross led things off with a single, then swiped second, and eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 Cardinals advantage. Kamden Robson’s RBI fielder’s choice ground out scored Cole Arnold, followed by another bases loaded walk as Eudora led 6-1.The Cardinals padded their cushion to six runs via Kolt Cline fielder’s choice groundout that plated Jack Cline.

Arnold’s RBI-single in the bottom of the third scored Eli Griffin for an 8-1 lead. The lead swelled to 10-1 as Eudora center fielder Max McCleary swatted a two-RBI double to deep right field, scoring Arnold and Ross. McCleary reached home plate on a two-out passed ball as the Cardinals built an 11-1 lead.

Eudora earned the five inning run-rule victory when Jack Cline scored on a passed ball in the fifth.

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports, File Photo

Eudora’s Ethan Ross and Payton Grado talk between at-bats during a baseball game on March 30 against Bonner Springs at Eudora High School.

McCleary finished 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBI, while Burling was 1 for 2 with three RBI. Leadoff hitter Arnold finished 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI. Shortstop Jack Kine collected three runs and a stolen base.

“Offensively, we put the ball in play and made them make plays,” Harper said.

Eudora starting pitcher Payton Grado earned the complete game victory. Gardo scattered six hits while striking out four and yielding one earned run. He also delivered 52 of 91 pitches for strikes.

Harper said the ability of his starting pitchers to work deep into a game “is a big thing for us” because it allows his squad to preserve arms over the long haul.

“We have had two starting pitchers go down with injury, and they are out for the season,” Harper said of Logan Miller and Brayden Decker.

He added that freshmen Colton Kline and Robson “are stepping up and filling those roles.”

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports, File Photo

Eudora’s Jack Cline smiles while standing in the infield during a baseball game on March 30 against Bonner Springs at Eudora High School.

In the second game of the twinbill, the Chargers struck for three runs in the top of the first inning.

But Eudora was quickly back in business due Chargers’ starting pitcher Trevin Cox’s control issues. Eudora’s first two runs of the contest came across when Cox issued free passes with the bases loaded against consecutive hitters.

The Cardinals tied the contest on a Colt Kline sacrifice fly that scored Jack Cline. Zeke Bartmess’ RBI line-drive single to right field plated Houstyn Carnagie for a 4-3 lead.

Eudora then increased its lead to three runs when Javion Noble sprinted home on a passed ball, followed by Ross’ hard-hit, run-scoring single to left field.

After increasing their lead to 7-3 in the second, the Cardinals followed by pushing across three more runs in the third. Arnold got things started with a double to deep right field that scored Bartmess and Ross. Arnold reached home, parlaying a passed ball and an error into a 10-3 lead.

That score held until the fifth, as a two-RBI double by Arnold and an RBI-single by Jack Cline put the Cardinals up by 10 runs for the run-rule victory.

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports, File Photo

Eudora’s Ethan Ross heads toward home plate to score a run during a baseball game on March 30 against Bonner Springs at Eudora High School.

Arnold again raked at the dish, finishing 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs. Jack Cline also mashed with a 3-for-4 performance that included two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

Bartmess finished 2 for 3 with two runs and one RBI, while Ross was 1 for 2 with an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. McCleary put forth his second consecutive impressive effort with two runs scored and an RBI.

Eli Griffin notched the complete-game victory, allowing five hits and two earned runs, while fanning six and walking two.

The Cardinals hit will host a doubleheader against rival Baldwin (8-7 overall). The teams were originally scheduled to square off in the first of those games on April 17 at Baldwin, but that contest was postponed due to inclement weather. First pitch is slated for 4:30 pm.