March 28, 2024

Opening gem

Hulett tosses two-hit shutout in 1-0 Panther victory

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INDIANOLA — A high school baseball fan would be hard-pressed to find a more crisp performance in the season opener than Creston’s 1-0 triumph over Indianola here Wednesday night.

Sophomore Kadon Hulett tossed a two-hit shutout to win a fast-paced duel with Indianola junior Jalen Hunter, who allowed only one hit, in the opener for both teams after Monday’s rainouts. The game was completed in 1 hour, 23 minutes.

But the lone Panther hit was a costly one for Hunter and the Indians in the top of the fifth inning. Panther first baseman Cody Crawford reached safely on a wide throw by the Indians’ shortstop, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Brody Frain.

Right fielder Dustin Merritt then lined a double to the left-center gap to drive in Crawford for the game’s only tally.

“We didn’t do much offensively tonight, but we did have some timely execution there in the fifth,” Panther coach Steve Birchard said. “Crawford hustled down the line and was safe, we moved him over and we got a timely hit by Merritt. He’s a good hitter.”

The Panthers had some key defensive plays throughout the night to preserve the shutout, but perhaps none more important than in the bottom of the fifth when the Indians threatened to tie it or go ahead with two runners in scoring position on a hit by pitch and throwing error by Hulett on a bunt.

Second baseman Brenden McDowell then recorded all three outs of the inning, starting with a pop fly catch. Then he went to his right to snare a soft liner, and tagged second base to double up the runner and retire the side.

Early in the game, catcher Jaden Driskell discouraged Indianola’s running game by throwing out a steal attempt to McDowell at second. In the Indianola sixth inning, left fielder Dalton O’Riley ran back on a hard-hit ball for the flyout just before Hunter drew a walk. A balk put the runner on second, but the inning ended on a popup to Crawford in foul territory near first base.

In the seventh, Hulett recorded his eighth and ninth strikeouts of the night in addition to catching a popup near the mound. The big righthander walked two and hit two batters.

“The defense got me out of some tough jams,” Hulett said. “I was throwing mainly the fastball and slider. My slider stays down and away a little better than the curve. It was pretty fun pitching against Jalen. I heard on the way up he was pitching against us. He throws pretty hard, I remember that from little kids baseball.”

Hunter, sister of former CHS track and volleyball standout Nicole Hunter, moved to Indianola before sixth grade. He finished his one-hitter with nine strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter.

“We have confidence in putting him out on the mound because he does good job of throwing strikes and he’s a competitor,” said Indianola coach Casey Aldridge. “He’s a good athlete.”

“He did a nice job,” Birchard added. “He’s got a nice little curveball and decent velocity. We’d love to have him!”

Hulett had as many walks as strikeouts a year ago, and his longest stint was five innings against Clarinda. He was more efficient Wednesday.

“Honestly, before opening day, I maybe had one bad bullpen (session), and that was way early in practice,” Hulett said. “I think a big part of that is (weekend) spring baseball. We got our arms strong enough. I’ve been trying to focus on not trying to throw so hard, and placing it better.”

He left an impression on Aldridge. Mike Wadle and Ross Adamson were the only Indians to hit safely.

“Their guy was throwing well,” the Indianola coach said. “We obviously struggled with him. Our hitting was pretty disappointing tonight.”

Driskell figures to get the mound assignment in tonight’s home opener for the Panthers against Nodaway Valley, with Crawford and Frain both available as well in the final game of the week. Chase Shiltz is sidelined from a severe low ankle sprain from soccer on Tuesday, and is doubtful for the soccer substate semifinal match tonight at Glenwood.

The Panther JV fell to 0-2 Wednesday in a 15-0 loss in five innings. Walks again hampered the Panthers, as Indianola scored 15 runs on four hits, eight walks, three hit batters and three errors.

Deaven Reese and Mason Kinsella had hits for Creston. O’Riley and Bryce Fitzgerald pitched before Kylan Smallwood got the final out with no walks or strikeouts. Senior Denver Hosey had two hits for Indianola’s JV.

Creston 1, Indianola 0

R H E

Creston 000 010 0 — 1 1 1

Indianola 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

Cr: Kadon Hulett 9K 2BB 2 HBP and Jaden Driskell. Ind: Jalen Hunter 9K 1 BB 1 HBP. W — Hulett. L— Hunter. 2B — Cr: Dustin Merritt. RBI — Cr: Merritt 1. Multiple hitters — none.