BASEBALL: Winterset tops Trojans on cold and wet matinee Saturday

Huskies outhit Trojans 7-2, Atlantic still searching for first win of season

By Drew Herron - NT Sports Editor / June 1, 2013

ATLANTIC – A short-handed Trojans’ squad came up on the losing end of a pitcher’s dual Saturday afternoon as Winterset came to Atlantic and left town with a 4-1 victory.

Atlantic used a lineup of mostly junior varsity players that included three eighth graders, a freshman and two sophomores, as many regulars were not in uniform.

Trojans’ head coach Trace Petersen praised the effort afterwards, and said the squad he put on the field came ready to play.

“Hats off to the kids who are here, and chose to do things the right way,” he said. “This is what we have, and these guys want to play.”

Atlantic junior right-hander Zach Nelson threw all seven innings, matching Winterset junior Andy Lambert tit-for-tat for the better part of the cold and wet afternoon.

In his first start of the season on the mound, Nelson allowed seven hits, two walks and two earned runs while striking out seven.

“Zach threw a nice ball game, he battled on the hill,” coach Petersen said. “He changed speeds, worked his curve ball, and worked from behind. We needed Zach to go seven innings for us today, and he did. He put us in a legit position to win a ball game.”

Lambert outdid him however, keeping Atlantic’s young lineup in check for the better part of seven innings. Lambert allowed just two hits and three walks, struck out 11, and didn’t allow an earned run.

Following back-to-back singles from Ryan Hawkins and Zach Nelson in the first inning, Lambert did not allow a hit.

“They had seven hits, we had two,” coach Petersen says. “That’s the bottom line.”

“With some of the guys swinging the sticks today, it’s going to be a cultural adjustment. We definitely have to generate some offense at the top of our order, and if we don’t get those people on base, it’s going to be difficult.”

Moreover, Atlantic plugged in a catcher that has not caught live pitching since he was in little league, but coach Petersen was proud of how eighth grader Kolton Carey handled the challenge.

“Kolton did a darn good job,” coach Petersen said. “We literally didn’t know who we’d have back there until we showed up for (batting practice) today, and Kolton handled himself very well.”

Winterset leadoff man Alex Forgy started the game with a single, and came around to score the game’s first run two batters latter on a sacrifice fly from Lambert. Forgy would score two runs, and Lambert would drive in two for the Huskies.

Atlantic’s lone run came in the sixth, when Zach Nelson reached on an error to start the inning. He quickly stole second base, and worked his way home on an error to plate the Trojans’ only run.

With the loss, the Trojans drop to 0-5 on the season, and will turn around and face Harlan Monday, and Shenandoah Tuesday.