By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Beau Stoker belted a two-run double down the right field line to vault his Bishop Ward baseball team into the Kansas state record books Monday.
Although the extra base hit didn’t secure the Cyclone’s record breaking 43rd-straight win, it did give Ward the momentum it needed to pull out the historic 8-3 triumph over Kaw Valley Conference rival Piper.
Ward’s five-run victory over the Pirates re-establishes the state record for wins in a row by a baseball team regardless of classification and betters Sedan’s 42-game winning streak from the 1970s.
Piper totaled three runs in the second and third innings to knot the score at 3-3, and was out-hitting the Cyclones 9-2 through five innings when Stoker changed Ward’s fortunes with one swing of the bat.
John Oropeza broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning on Matt Garcia’s bunt. But Stoker broke the game open when his two-base stroke scored Jake Janes, who reached on a walk, and Garcia. Bishop Ward, the winner of the last five 4A state championships, extended its advantage to 8-3 when Joe Santoyo and Aaron Quisenberry reached base with walks and scored on RBI singles by Xavier Credit and Hutch Bogdan.
Bishop Ward defenders thwarted two Piper base hits in the fifth inning by snagging a diving catch in left field and a leaping catch in right field. The Cyclones also picked off two Pirate base runners.
“You have to throw strikes and make them put the ball in play,” Cyclone coach Dennis Hurla said of Bishop Ward’s defensive success. “Then when they put it (ball) in play you have to make the catch. We did that.”
Hurla, who demands a lot of time out of his players, has built his powerhouse program around a strong work ethic and attention to detail. Rounding corners on the bases and relaxing during practice or games is unacceptable.
“It’s full bore out there,” Hurla said. “Once they (players) buy into what we’re doing, they can go as far as their abilities will take them.”
During the winning streak, Bishop Ward has experienced its share of close calls and played through its share of pressure situations. Hurla guessed that the Cyclones have won at least 10 extra inning games during his team’s two-season run.
Last season, Ward outlasted Topeka Hayden 6-5 in 13 innings in the 4A state tournament semifinals and edged Piper in eight innings for the regional title by the same score. This season, the Cyclones squeaked by Mill Valley 3-2 in eight innings in the season opener.
About 24 hours after securing the state record win; Bishop Ward’s streak nearly came to an end at the hands of Mill Valley Tuesday. But the Cyclones turned a 7-4 deficit into a 9-7 lead in the top of the seventh inning and won their 44th straight contest.
The Jaguars scored a run to pull within 9-8 and had runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the seventh frame. But Mill Valley flew out to left field to end the threat.
“We were fortunate to hang in there,” Hurla said of the close call. “Down 7-4 we were able to come back. You need a little luck every now and then.”
The last time Hurla’s squad tasted defeat was on April 22, 2006 when Rockhurst knocked off the Cyclones 6-3.
Piper takes another shot at Bishop Ward Saturday when the Pirates host the Cyclones at 1 p.m. If Bishop Ward succeeds in that battle, Rockhurst will try to end the streak Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m.
Girls Track and Field: Penner Signs With Sooners
Katelyn Penner has decided to become a Sooner. In doing so, the Labette County senior has more than likely finished her basketball career in pursuit of becoming a throwing specialist for the Big 12 school.
Penner’s final high school track season started off on the right foot last Friday when she rang up three gold medals at the 10-team Labette County Invitational. She threw 19-feet further than her nearest competitor with a toss of 135-feet, 3-inches in the javelin. Penner then threw the discus 107-0 and the shot put 36-5 3/4.
Heistand Nets Meet Record Throw
Marmaton Valley thrower, Briana Heistand started her final high school track season
by breaking the record for the discus throw at the Central Heights High Invitational Friday. Her record-winning toss went 102-feet, 10 1/2 inches.
Heistand also placed third in the shot put with a throw of 34-5. The Wildcat thrower earned a sixth place medal with her toss of 79-4 in the javelin.
