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STRONG EFFORT

Wildcats too much for Gaels in early-season NCC clash

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Sawyer Savery of Humboldt slides past St. Edmond Jackson Kochendorfer on Wednesday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Cade Witzke gave the Humboldt bullpen a chance to rest on Wednesday night, as the freshman went the distance for the Wildcats in a 14-3 six-inning win over St. Edmond at Rogers Park.

Witzke (2-0) pitched six sharp innings, only allowing four hits on the night. He had two strikeouts and three walk, and is the first pitcher to throw a complete game for Humboldt this season.

“Cade did a nice job of minimizing his pitches,” said Humboldt head coach Jason Thurm. “He was able to throw strikes and got ahead in the count.”

The Wildcats (4-2 overall, 1-0 North Central Conference) pounded out 10 hits in the North Central Conference opener for both programs.

Humboldt opened the scoring in the second inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring four runs. Joey Busse and Reese DeWinter both had two-run doubles in the frame.

The Wildcats tacked on two more big innings, scoring three runs in the fifth and six in the sixth.

Owen Newton highlighted the fifth with a two run double and Michael Brightly had two-run single in the sixth.

“We played some heady defense,” Thurm said. “We did well offensively and came up with some big hits.

“There were a couple of times where we threatened for runs and weren’t able to score.”

The Gaels (2-3, 0-1) only managed four hits on the night, but three of the four were for extra bases.

St. Edmond struggled in the first two innings, but had a big third to cut the Humboldt lead to 4-3 with three straight doubles to start the frame. Nick Bennett led off with a double, followed by an RBI-double from Noah Carlson and another RBI-double from Cael Kolacia.

“We have to learn to fight and be mentally tough,” Szalat said. “We need to get a little mean streak in us and play hard and get a little emotion in us.

“Jake (Szalat), Noah and Jack have really put in the work. Jake has an eye for the zone and is getting on base (three times on Wednesday).”

St. Edmond struggled on the mound, as three pitchers combined for eight walks.

“Walks hurts us,” Szalat said “Jack (McEvoy) has good mechanics, but struggled with his release point. Then we brought in an eighth-grader and freshman, who are starting to learn to throw.”

Newton was 2-for-3 and Witzke had two hits as well.

St. Edmond travels to Iowa Falls-Alden on Friday. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

HUMBOLDT 14, ST. EDMOND 3

Humboldt 040 136 — 14 15 2

St. Edmond 003 000 — 3 4 4

Witzke (W, 6 IP, 4 hits, 2K, 3BB) and Isaac Thurm; Jack McEvoy (L, 2IP, 3 hits, 4K, 4BB), Emanuel Perry (3IP), Peyton Scott (1IP) and Jake Szalat. 2B–H: Owen Newton; SE: Nick Bennett, Noah Carlson, Cael Kolacia.

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