By Dean Hensley
West Henderson’s baseball team is an offensive monster, but with senior pitcher Daniel Hyatt on the mound, the Falcons hardly need their loaded bats.
The Winthrop-bound senior fired 11 strikeouts and held a talented Asheville Christian Academy squad to just four hits Tuesday night as West cruised to an 11-3 non-conference win at home. Hyatt also helped his own cause at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Daniel’s dad, Jim Hyatt, coach of the Falcons, was proud of his son’s performance but believed it could’ve been even better.
“I think he pitched OK overall. He could’ve done a little bit more. He walked the leadoff batter in the first inning, and that led to a run, and then in the top of the fifth, we walked another batter with two outs and that led to the other two runs,” coach Hyatt said. “But anytime you can shut down a team like that, you have to be happy in the dugout. I believe they were state champions in their private school league.”
Daniel Hyatt improved to 2-0 on the year. His other win was a week ago — a nine-strikeout, no-hitter against Carolina High in South Carolina.
After surrendering the unearned run in the top of the first, West answered with five runs off five hits, including a two-run double off the wall by Taylor Reeves, in the bottom half of the inning.
Hyatt settled in on the mound, striking out the side in the top of the second. He held the Lions’ bats silent until the top of the fifth when he gave up two runs off two hits and a walk. But by then, the Falcons (4-0) held a commanding 8-2 lead.
Hyatt went the distance, giving up the three runs, one earned, off four hits with two walks.
Dillon Baker went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt, and Jesse Ivens also had a good night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
West leadoff man Zac Beard went 2-for-3, and Tyler Isgett, Tyler Austin and Forrest Koontz each went 2-for-4 as the Falcons ended the night with 18 hits.
Matt Justice was the only ACA batter to have multiple hits. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
“They are a quality team, and they didn’t quit. It was a good win for us early in the year,” coach Hyatt said.
Up next for West is a road game at Tuscola today.
“They’re a good team, too, so we’re going to go with Tyler Austin. He’s our other No. 1, so we’re going to go over there and see what we can do,” coach Hyatt said.
Linescore
r h e
ACA: 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 — 3 4 2
West: 5 0 2 1 0 3 x — 11 18 1
Winning pitcher: Daniel Hyatt (2-0) (7 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 11 Ks, 2 BBs)
Losing pitcher: Matt Justice (2 1/3 IP, 7 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 0 Ks, 1 BB)
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