The Kimball eighth-grade baseball team had a strong start to their season Thursday when they traveled to Maple Lake for a twin bill. In game one, Nolan Petersen started on the mound for the Cubs. He pitched three scoreless innings while striking out eight Irish hitters. Petersen walked two and hit two batters in picking up the win. Cooper Faber relieved Petersen and pitched one inning. He allowed two hits, one run and struck out the side.
At the plate, the Cubs scored four runs in the first and five runs in each of the next three innings. The final score was 19-1 in game one. Chase Winter led the hitting attack with four hits, including a double and a triple. Cooper Faber, Jonah Klein and Ross Vinar each had three hits as the Cubs had 20 total for the game. Winter also scored four runs and had four RBI. Klein added three runs. Teagan VanNurden knocked in four runs, and Faber had three RBI.
In game two, the Cubs started slow, going down in order the first two innings. The third inning, the Cubs struck for five runs and added five more in the fourth. Kimball shut out the Irish 10-0 to complete the sweep.
Kolby Foster had the nod in the second contest. Foster threw two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and one walk. Kolby struck out five in picking up the win. Evan Molitor worked an inning of relief. He allowed one hit and one walk while fanning two. Kadon Pauls closed the game, facing three hitters and striking out two.
The Cubs collected four hits in the game, one each by Alex Fink, Oliver Zwack, Ross Vinar and Evan Molitor. Four players scored two runs apiece: Keagan Inglett, Owen Peterson, Ross Vinar, and Evan Molitor. Molitor, Zwack, and Ethan Gourneau each had two RBI in the victory.