WORTHINGTON -- Two days after allowing 25 hits and 38 runs in two losses to Adrian, the Worthington team had other plans for Tuesday night's legion baseball game against Jackson.
Starting pitcher Matt King did not allow a hit as Worthington won a decisive 10-0 five-inning victory.
"I just threw well, and they didn't hit the ball very well," King said. "There is no secret; I just kept throwing strikes."
King had eight strikeouts and walked two batters in the complete-game victory to get Worthington back on track after the two big losses.
"You never know how people are going to come out after something like (the Adrian losses)," Worthington head coach Joe Rezek said. "Especially with a rival like Adrian and to get it handed to us. It was nice to come out here and hit and play good baseball for the first time in a couple of weeks."
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Jackson (5-14) had opportunities to get on the board, as five runners reached base in the game.
However, one was picked off by King, one was thrown out trying to steal by Worthington catcher Justin Lewis, and three were stranded on base in the game.
"We couldn't get the key hit," Jackson head coach Dan Condon said. "That's what a good team will do -- they will give you a few base runners, but they'll make the plays and keep you off the board, which is something that we weren't able to do tonight."
On the opposite side, Worthington had two runners in scoring position in the first two innings, but came up empty each time, as the game was scoreless through two innings.
But it was in the third when Worthington turned on the offense.
"I think we saw some pitches," Rezek said. "The kids realized what pitches they were going to hit, and they were throwing strikes. We decided to turn it on, and that's what we did."
Brandon Schroeder reached on an error to lead off the inning, and with one out, Joe Ahrens ripped a single.
Jackson starter Phil Pronk was able to record the second out of the inning and appeared to be out of the jam.
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However, Lewis reached on an error that scored Schroeder, and Ahrens later scored on a wild pitch to give Worthington a 2-0 lead.
Kyle Stock continued the inning with an RBI single, and Tony Jansen followed with a single to drive in King as Worthington scored four runs in the inning and had a 4-0 lead after three innings.
Post 5 then came back for more in the fourth.
Kyle Vaske reached on an error, and Ahrens ripped another single as Worthington had two runners on and no outs.
Derek Busswitz was able to reach on a bunt as the bases were loaded for Lewis.
The catcher hit a single to drive in Vaske, and King followed with a two-RBI single as Worthington was rolling along.
With still no outs in the inning, Condon lifted Pronk for Tyler Rettig, and the right-hander was able to get out of the jam.
However, the damage was done as Worthington had a 9-0 lead after four innings.
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"I thought (Rettig) threw pretty well," Condon said. "He got us out of a jam in the fourth inning, but in the fifth, they only needed one run."
King issued a walk in the top of the fifth, but Lewis came through with a strike to throw out the runner trying to steal, which put the icing on King's no-hitter.
"We got a great pitching performance, and we had a lot of hits," Rezek said. "We moved the runners around with some bunts and had a couple of hits and runs. We worked on the fundamentals and basics of the game and came out with a big win."
Post 5 needed one run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early, and with the bases loaded, King drew a walk not to only drive in the winning run, but also to record his first career no-hitter.
"I was close to a no-hitter one time at Sioux City in VFW," King said, "but the last batter in the last inning got a double."
Worthington will have some time off before traveling to Okabena July 12.
R H E
Jackson 000 00 -- 0 0 4
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Worthington 004 51 -- 10 7 1
Edgerton 8, Okabena 7
EDGERTON -- Pat Kleinjan had two RBIs, including the game-winner to lead Edgerton past Okabena in an American Legion baseball game Tuesday.
Jordan Gunnick (two runs scored) and Dylan Voge each had two hits to lead Edgerton offensively.
For Okabena, Mike Stenzel had three hits and drove in two runs, while Garet Rogers had a pair of hits and had two RBIs.
Kirk McBreen had an RBI double, while Derek Stenzel had an RBI single.
Joe Leopold and Lon Eichenberger each had a base hit for Okabena.
Trevor Leopold suffered the loss for Okabena in five and one third innings. He allowed four earned runs while walking one and striking out two. Garet Rogers finished the game on the hill.
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For Edgerton, Trey Manitz earned the win in relief of starter Alex Van't Hof.
Okabena will travel to Luverne Friday, while Edgerton will host Adrian Tuesday.
R H E
Okabena 004 030 0 -- 7 9 3
Edgerton 302 030 X -- 8 7 1
