Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

The Western Boone Varsity Baseball team began conference play this week traveling to North Montgomery Tuesday, and hosting the Chargers on Wednesday. The Stars dropped both games but not without a ton of fight. Jackson Grimes pitched Tuesday and threw very well. The Stars defense fell well short of expectations and allowed 11 unearned runs causing the final score to favor the Chargers 12-5. The Stars held the lead through 4 innings in this first contest before the defensive wheels fell off. Wednesday the Stars bounced back nicely lead by an impeccable outing by Bryce Kopriva. The Stars lead 2-0 after 4 innings but two late inning runs by the Chargers sent the game to extra innings. The boys never gave up and came back in extra innings to score when down one, knotting the game at 3. North Montgomery eventually scored two runs in the top of the 9th after an error allowed the first runner on base. The Stars gave one last push in the bottom of the 9th when they got runners to 2nd and 3rd with two outs. A great play by the Chargers right fielder ended the contest. Pitching was lead by Grimes and Kopriva. Offensive leaders included Kopriva with 5 hits in the series, Hawkins and Luke Jackson both provided three hits each including Luke Jackson’s second home run of the year. Marcum and Grimes provided two knocks a piece. Overall, the Stars competed for two nights. The reality is that this group has the talent to change the narrative for the Stars in terms of the school’s baseball woes. The question is does the group have what it takes to overcome the stumbles and make the routine plays when they matter? Can they begin to find a way to gut out some wins in close games? Their coaches believe they will. The Stars have Sheridan Thursday, Pike Saturday, University Monday, and then another SAC series next Tuesday and Wednesday against Lebanon.