Bronaugh’s Earnest K’s 14 in losing effort

Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Bronaugh Wildcats senior starting pitcher Koltin Earnest delivers during Monday’s Golden Valley Vernon County matchup with the Miami Eagles.
Submitted photo

Bronaugh Wildcats’ starting pitcher Koltin Earnest was lights out on the mound Monday against the Miami Eagles, striking out 14 batters over 5 2/3 innings of work while allowing only two hits.

Despite his best efforts, however, the Wildcats (0-8) fell 9-5.

“I cannot say enough how proud I am of our team, and especially the performance from our lone senior Koltin Earnest, playing his final home game,” said Wildcats’ head coach Jarrod Alexander.

Earnest, who was nearly unhittable, had reached his pre-set pitch count of 105 pitches, and was removed from the game with two outs in the top of the sixth with Bronaugh holding a 4-1 lead.

Prior to the season, the Missouri State High School Activities Association implemented pitch count restrictions, in an effort to curtail arm injuries.

The rules specify that seniors have a maximum of 105 pitches per contest. Earnest finished at 107 pitches, only because he was sitting at 104 pitches prior to facing his final batter of the evening.

“He felt strong and still had good velocity on his pitches,” noted Alexander.

Earnest needed only four more outs for the victory –– and due up for Miami was the bottom of its order.

“Koltin pitched with emotion and a ton of heart, and he really carried us as far as he was able to before reaching his pitch limit,” Alexander said.

After Earnest’s departure, Miami used a two-out rally to trim its deficit to 4-3. Bronaugh entered the top of the seventh with a 5-3 advantage, but was unable to slam the door on Miami, as the Eagles tacked on six runs.

“We once again struggled to find the strike zone,” Alexander said of the relief pitching effort. “This has hurt us all season long. I don’t doubt or question our effort one bit. At times, we get out there and want to succeed so badly that we start to press and try to force things instead of just relaxing and throwing strikes.

Alexander continued: “I am super-proud of every player on the team. We gave our best effort and played hard. Success isn’t always (measured on the) scoreboard, and we know that.”

For Bronaugh, Max Ellis finished 1-for-3 with a third inning run-scoring double, while Earnest also collected a double. In addition, Austin Gray went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single.

More on Earnest

Alexander said Earnest will be extremely difficult to replace, as the senior has left an indelible mark on the Bronaugh baseball program.

“Every time Kolt is on the mound we know that we have a chance to win the game, it doesn’t matter who we are playing,” said Alexander, who is in his second season as the Wildcats’ head coach.

“When I step back and look at the big picture here, and think of Kolt, he defines what we are striving towards in building a program. He’s the best example of a Wildcat.”

Alexander said the 2017 campaign has not gone as planned, but through it all Earnest has consistently displayed true leadership qualities.

“It has been easy to become frustrated through the process,” Alexander said. “Kolt, however, exemplifies the standards that we have set. Being the only senior, he has taken the reins and is doing a tremendous job of laying a foundation that, in a few seasons we can look back at and say ‘this season is where it started to turn around for us.’”

Alexander continued: “Kolt works hard every day, he loves his teammates, he is present and respectful in the classroom and has been a tremendous role model for his team. I really hope that his younger teammates realize how blessed they are to have a guy with such high character as their captain and their leader.”

Upcoming schedule

The Wildcats season finale is slated for May 2, when they face the Northeast Arma (Kan.) Vikings in a nonconference road contest.

Bronaugh will then enter postseason play, as the bracket for the Class 1 District 8 tournament hosted by Miami, has not yet been released.

Alexander said in the two weeks leading up to the district tournament, that his squad will heavily focus on throwing strikes.

“Working hard on our mechanics and throwing strikes will be our top priorities,” he said.”

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