By Chris Bennett
CORRESPONDENT
The Elkhorn Area High School baseball team split two Southern Lakes Conference games last week, but more importantly, the team’s bats broke out of their spring slumber.
The Elks lost 5-2 to the Falcons Monday at Salem and won Tuesday 11-9 at home.
“We finally got the bats going on Tuesday,” Elks coach Paul Manriquez said.
Elkhorn finished with 13 hits Tuesday. The Elks jumped on the Falcons early with three runs in the first and another two in the second. Elkhorn also scored five runs in the sixth.
Matt Ambelang and Zach Patryn each finished with three hits for the Elks, who won despite committing four errors. Patryn drove in five runs.
“I think guys try to do more than we need to, at this point, because of some of the close losses we’ve had and are pressing in the field,” Manriquez said. “It was nice to be able to make those errors and come back on Tuesday. I think that was a real confidence builder.”
Elkhorn tallied eight hits in Monday’s losing effort, and scored in both the fourth and fifth innings.
“On Monday, we just couldn’t clutch up,” Manriquez said. “They had some clutch hits when they needed them. We just couldn’t pull it out.”
Manriquez said he hopes the Elks recent offensive outburst continues. “I’m a firm believer in hitting being contagious,” Manriquez said.
The Elks were afforded plenty of recent opportunities to test Manriquez’s theory, with a SLC game against Union Grove Monday and a SLC doubleheader Tuesday against Wilmot.
Elkhorn plays SLC-foe Delavan-Darien tonight and intra-county rival Big Foot Friday. All games are at home.
