Kenowa Hills Baseball Clinches Share of OK Gold Conference Championship 

With just one win to capture at least a tie of the OK Gold championship on Tuesday at Grand Rapids Catholic Central the Knights fell just short in the first game with a 3-1 loss.

Catholic Central took the lead on a triple in the second inning by John Passinault and that was all Catholic Central needed.  The pitching was strong on both sides. Catholic Central pitchers struck out four, while Kenowa Hills Knights Evan Breuker sat down five.  Adam Wandzel got the win for Catholic Central. Wandzel allowed eight hits and one run over seven innings, striking out four.  Breuker took the loss for Kenowa Hills, as the pitcher lasted six innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out five.

Kenowa Hills totaled eight hits in the game. Justin Stulpe and Breuker each collected multiple hits for  the Knights. Stulpe went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Kenowa Hills in hits.  Passinault led Catholic Central with two hits in three at bats.

In the second game the Knights were able to secure the game they needed as they bested Catholic Central by a 9-3 score.  Thanks to a timely five runs in a big fifth inning Kenowa Hills was able to take the lead and never looked back.  The big bats in the inning were led by Evan Breuker, Joey Hysell, and Jack Kubiak, all driving in runs.  Catholic Central got things moving in the first inning, when Luke Kuzner drew a walk, scoring one run.

Justin Stulpe was the winning pitcher for Kenowa Hills. The pitcher lasted six innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out 11. Dylan Nguyen threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.  Kuzner started the game for Catholic Central. The bulldog went three and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out five. 

Kenowa Hills tallied six hits on the day. Kubiak and Trevin Laming all managed multiple hits for the Knights.  John Passinault went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Catholic Central in hits.

The Knights 27-4 (18-2) will host Catholic Central on Thursday.  With a win Kenowa Hills can clinch the outright OK Gold title.