McPHERSON, Kan. – McPherson High School Baseball split their league doubleheader against Mulvane at home on Friday, April 17, handing Mulvane their first loss of the season 3-2 in game one, before Wildcat pitcher Grey Sanders threw a no-hitter to defeat McPherson in game two 6-0.
The Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches (KABC) ranked McPherson (11-3, 5-3 AVCTL-3) as the No. 4 team in 4A. Mulvane (11-1, 5-1 AVCTL-3) entered as the top-ranked team in the class and the final unbeaten team in 4A.
Both teams were scoreless in the first two innings of game one before Mulvane struck first on an RBI single by Hays Ensley to lead 1-0. Two pitches later, Parker Clubb drove in a run as well to put Mulvane up 2-0. Mulvane had a leadoff hit in the third inning, prompting McPherson to pull their starting pitcher, Cru Buchman, from the game to bring in Takoda Linn. Linn allowed a walk to put two baserunners aboard with no outs, but retired the next three batters to keep the score put at 2-0 Mulvane.
McPherson had just four baserunners in the first four innings, which were on two infield hits by Graham Prescott and a walk drawn by Brady Rinker and Nolan Pearcy, but the bats started coming alive in the fifth. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch, senior Cowen Huggard drove home a run on an RBI single to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Senior Cade Strathman then drove home the tying run two pitches later on an RBI double, tying the game 2-2.
With two outs and runners at 2nd and 3rd base, Colt Chapman hit a ground ball to shortstop Brody Clasen, who threw to first base just a touch wide. The base umpire called the batter-runner out on the initial call, but McPherson’s fans, coaches, and players urged that the throw pulled the first baseman’s foot off of the base. After a brief meeting between the home plate umpire and the base umpire, the call was reversed, calling Chapman safe on an error, which happened to score Huggard to give McPherson a 3-2 lead.
Linn remained on the mound for McPherson, now with a one-run cushion. In the final two innings, Mulvane had three baserunners due to defensive errors, but Linn retired the rest, including ending the game on a groundout with the potential tying run in scoring position to win the game, 3-2. The win handed Mulvane their first loss of the season in their 11th game. Linn earned his first win of the season on the mound.
Game two was all Mulvane from the beginning, as they hung two early crooked numbers and no-hit McPherson to win 6-0. The Wildcats loaded the bases in the first, scoring two runs on a defensive error and an RBI groundout. Mulvane then put up three runs in the second inning on an RBI walk and a two-run single.
McPherson’s Cade Strathman settled in on the mound following the first two frames, as he only allowed one walk and three hits since. Mulvane added a run on an RBI single by Clubb to lead 6-0 in the 6th. Mulvane was able to hold on to win the game, 6-0.
The story of the game for Mulvane was pitcher Grey Sanders’ no-hitter. The senior right-handed pitcher, who’s committed to play at KU, threw all seven innings, striking out 17 batters.
McPherson struggled to catch up to Sanders’ fastball, which according to Prep Baseball Report can be thrown up to 95 mph. For reference, according to Statcast as of April 19, only 37% of qualified MLB pitchers have an average fastball velocity of at least 95.0 mph.
McPherson will host two quads next week, starting Tuesday, April 21. They will begin at 4:00 p.m. against Emporia, then will face either Rose Hill or Great Bend.
