By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The name Ryker, of German origin, means “rich” or “powerful ruler.” That was appropriate for Bedford North Lawrence’s performance in the split doubleheader with Franklin and Evansville North on Saturday.
With Ryker Hughes in power mode on the mound, the Stars recorded their first win of this newborn season. With the Huskies in power mode – particularly star slugger Cameron Decker – Evansville North slugged its way to two victories, including an impressive triumph over the Stars in the nightcap of the nine-hour, three-game marathon day.
Hughes had the ‘Ryk’ stuff, striking out 6 in six innings of work as BNL conquered Franklin 10-4 in the first game of the tripleheader.. After North rallied from a seven-run deficit in the seventh to stun the Grizzly Cubs 12-11 in extra innings in the middle contest, the Huskies launched three home runs in the first inning to overpower the Stars 13-4 in the finale.
That’s a lot of baseball. That’s a lot of statistics and information. The bottom line: BNL’s young team tasted victory, rinsing away the aftertaste of the sour opener.
“There was a lot to digest from two games,” BNL coach Jeff Callahan said. “I like the way we competed. You could see some improvement, but we have work to do in all areas. I hope to never see another game like (the 17-3 loss to Terre Haute South on Tuesday). So it was good to come back and compete. Not only to get a win but one over a quality opponent.”
BNL (1-2) controlled the opener, scoring in every inning. Three walks and sacrifice fly from Jonny Stone started the onslaught, Cal Gates roped a RBI double and Grant Dalton added a run-scoring single in the second, Gates drove in two more in the third, Kaedyn Bennett squeezed in a run in the fourth, and Dalton had two more RBIs in the fifth.
Gates had three hits and three RBIs, Dalton (making his debut after a preseason hand injury suffered in practice) had two hits and two RBIs, and Stone drove in a pair. Hughes made that work, scattering five hits before Gates threw the final inning.
North (3-0) exploded during its comeback from a 9-0 hole and an 11-4 deficit in the final inning against the Cubs. Landon Shellhaas had the game-winning hit in the eighth, and the Huskies maintained that momentum against BNL. First-inning home runs by Decker (a solo shot to left-center), Luke Diekmann (a two-run bomb to left) and Cole Decker (a towering drive into the wind in right field) gave North a 4-0 cushion.
“It’s never easy, you make that huge comeback and then have to play Bedford,” North coach Jeremy Jones said. “We got on top early, which gave us a chance to breathe.”
Decker was hold-your-breath special at the plate. He crushed a second home run in the seventh. In three games over two days, the Central Florida recruit has hammered six home runs. That’s a Babe Ruth impersonation.
“Best kid I’ve ever coached,” Jones said. “Such a hard worker, such a great kid. He’s the leader of our program. Just a phenomenal young man.”
BNL’s highlights against North included Trace Rynders’ infield single for a run in the second inning, Stone’s double that led to a run in the fourth, Stone’s sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Hughes’ blast to deep center leading off the sixth. Talk about launch angle and exit velocity, that one had both. Bennett had two hits.
On the flip side, BNL pitchers allowed 10 walks and 13 hits.
“We don’t have guys to strike out double digits,’” Callahan said. “We have to locate and throw all our pitches for strikes. We didn’t do that.”
Decker was 4 for 5 and had a shot at the cycle in his final plate appearance. He just hit it too far, over the fence in right-center field.
The Stars will return to action on Monday, hosting Austin.
