Ward’s debut delivers Eagles’ sweep

BROOKVILLE — The Roger Ward baseball era enjoyed a rousing debut with a dominating 17-0 and 13-3 sweep over Ell-Saline in Tuesday’s season opener. 

ELLINWOOD 17, ELL-SALINE 0 (G1) — Ellinwood starter Dylan Gantz (1-0) struck out seven batters in a brilliant one-hit performance with no walks. 

Cooper Hosman led the offense with three hits, three RBIs and four runs scored. The Eagles put the game away with an eight-run fifth inning. 

Tarrant Young scored on a groundout and Gantz doubled home Hosman for a 2-0 lead. Cooper Coleman hit an RBI third-inning single and Bryan Jaske followed with a two-run double. Jaske scored on a passed ball.

Hosman hit an RBI single and Parker Scheck and Hosman scored on passed balls for a 9-0 lead. In an 8-run fifth, Chase Gibson, Scheck and Brack hit RBI singles and Hosman ripped a 2-run double. Coleman, Scheck and Brack scored on passed balls.

ELLINWOOD 13, ELL-SALINE 3 (G2) — Jaske drove in three runs to spark the second-game victory.  The Eagles took advantage of 11 walks and two hit-batters for a second run-rule victory.

In a 10-run second inning, Jaske delivered a pair of RBI singles and Young’s bunt drove home a run. Jaske, Brack, Hosman, Gantz, Brayden Williams and Scheck scored on passed balls or wild pitches. Young stole home.

Gantz and Jaske drove home runs in a 3-run third inning. Young scored on a passed ball. 

Second-game starter Scheck struck out five batters in three innings. Reliever Coleman threw two shutout innings.

Ellinwood 204 38 — 17 10 0 

Ell-Saline 000 0 — 0 1 0 

Gantz, Jaske (5) and Coleman. Goddard, Johnson (3), Dent (4), Bradley (5) and Roche. W—Gantz, 1-0. L—Goddard, 0-1. 2B—E—Gantz, Jaske, Hosman; ES—Wilson. 

Ellinwood 0(10)3 000 — 13 7 1

Ell-Saline 012 000 — 3 6 0

Scheck, Coleman (4) and Jaske. Wilson, Bradley, Norris, Bradley, Griffin and Roche. W—Scheck, 1-0. L—Wilson, 0-1. 2B—E—Gantz; ES—Holmgren, Griffin.