Holcomb baseball shuts out Clarkton

HOLCOMB – The Holcomb baseball team got its offense rolling early while the Hornets tested three pitchers on the mound and didn't allow a single hit in their 15-0 shutout over Clarkton at home Monday.

“It was a productive game for us because we got to go up there and swing the bat after being off for a week with spring break,” Holcomb coach Michael Snider said. “The pitchers did a good job on the mound and filled it up with a bunch of strikes. That's always a positive when you put a bunch of guys up there to give them live situations.”

The Hornets racked up 10 hits and 15 runs, eight of which came in the first inning.

Holcomb capitalized on several wild pitches, and sophomore Noah Kenner stole home for the first run of the day. Payton McNabb, Hunter Lawrence and Trey Moody all scored on pitching errors before Stephen Bradshaw hammered a ball to center field to bring in Samuel Jacobs and Keaton Cunningham.

Bryce McNabb singled on a ground ball to bring Bradshaw and Kenner home for Holcomb's seventh and eighth runs.

“We had a lot of opportunities,” Snider said. “And a lot of times we did capitalize on them, but there were other times where I didn't think we did, but it is what it is. At least we were in those opportunities, and that's always a positive.”

Clarkton's Clayton Godsey looks to move to third base after being walked in the first inning of Monday's game against Holcomb.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat.

In the bottom of the third, Kenner knocked back a line drive to left field to bring Cunningham home. Cunningham, Jacobs, Bryce and Payton McNabb, Lawrence and Barry Privett would all score by the end of the inning to lead 14-0.

While the three Holcomb pitchers went to work to quickly put away innings, the Hornets added one more run in the bottom of the fourth as Payton McNabb scored on a line drive hit by Hunter Lawrence.

Payton McNabb started on the mound for Holcomb. He pitched for one inning, throwing 24 pitches with three strikeouts and two walks. Trey Moody came in for one inning and threw 14 pitches, ten strikes and three strikeouts.

Noah Kenner finished out the game for two innings and threw 26 pitches for 16 strikes, five strikeouts and one walk.

Holcomb's Noah Kenner throws a pitch in the Hornets' game against Clarkton Monday, April 3, 2023.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“I just have to get them innings,” Snider said of his pitching staff. “Peyton didn't really throw last week, so I wanted to get him on the mound because he's big for us.

“We went to Trey, and he's in the same scenario so we need to get him some work,” he continued. “Then we got down to Noah, and he did a really fantastic job today. He's struggled in the past with throwing strikes, but today he did a good job of that and gaining some confidence.”

Next, Holcomb travels to Senath-Hornersville Tuesday and hosts district rival Campbell Friday.

“We have some big games this week, and I do think we had the spring break jitters," Snider said. "We didn't look super sharp at times, and we've got to get better. We have to play really well tomorrow and Friday if we're going to have a shot at this.”