K-P upsets fifth-ranked MVAO 11-1 in six innings

K-P's Ryan Mercer throws from his knees to record an out during the Panthers' 5-4 loss to River Valley in Correctionville Friday. [Click to enlarge]

Baseball coaches will constantly tell you about the importance of playing the "whole game" for "all seven innings."

What they strive for is for their team to be solid in all three areas of the game - hitting, pitching and defense - and the wins will follow.

The Kingsley-Pierson baseball team finally put together a full game and earned itself an 11-1, six-inning win over Class 2A No. 5 Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto at home on Monday in Western Valley Conference baseball action.

"It was the first game of the season where we actually hit, pitched and played good defense all at once," K-P coach Kevin Hardie said. "It was a complete game."

Justin Laddusaw went the distance on the mound as he struck out two and scattered five hits while allowing no earned runs in the upset win.

"Laddusaw pitched great," Hardie said. "His last three outings, he's looked very good. Tonight he had the defense behind him."

He was helped at the plate as his team pounded out 10 hits to hand the Rams their second loss in their past three games.

"We clobbered the ball - we hit the ball really well tonight," Hardie said. "That's why this season has been so frustrating. The potential has always been there."

Chris Olson was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI to help lead the offensive onslaught. Tyler Sudbeck was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a run scored and three RBIs. Ben Goracke added two hits and an RBI and Ryan Mercer scored twice on a pair of walks.

The win comes on the heels of a tough weekend that saw the Panthers (8-15, 7-9) lose three games - a stretch that has all but eliminated them from qualifying for the Western Valley Conference tournament.

"I'm very happy with the way the kids have come out and played the last three games," Hardie said. "They're showing excitement and that they want to get out there and play. I'm hoping that with this win, we'll gain confidence."

K-P faces Galva-Holstein in a makeup game on Tuesday at home.

O-A 10-6, K-P 9-3

The Panthers dropped both ends of a doubleheader to visiting Odebolt-Arthur on Saturday to essentially end their chances of making the conference tournament.

"We were there and we had opportunities," Hardie said. "But in the end, we made a few too many mistakes."

In the opener - a 10-9 K-P defeat - Laddusaw pitched the entire game as he allowed just two earned runs on six hits in the loss.

Sudbeck led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance. The junior utility man drove in three and also scored three times.

Tyler Donaldson was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs. Olson walked twice and scored twice.

Mercer allowed five earned runs as he suffered the loss in the 6-3 nightcap. He struck out five and allowed seven hits.

The Panthers got two hits each from Olson, Sudbeck and Travis Neumann.

River Valley 5, K-P 4

The Panthers lost 5-4 to the Wolverines on Friday in WVC action.

Neumann and Tyler Campbell recorded the only two hits in the loss.

Olson pitched all six innings and allowed just one earned run on six hits in suffering the loss.