The Onaga High School baseball team entered a double-header last Thursday as a team needing to get back on track. Despite outscoring opponents in there first eight games by a combined score of 57 to 46, the team had a record of 3-5 entering the game. The disproportionate record was thanks to three losses that came by just one run. To make the losses sting even more, the Buffaloes led in all three games going into the bottom of the last inning. So while the team had played well, they were disappointed with the final results and were fired up to get some wins at Troy. Adding to the incentive to play well, a sweep of the Trojans would give them a perfect 4-0 record against Twin Valley League foes and a second league title in as many seasons as a program.
Junior Zac Fisher started on the mound for Onaga in the first game and had all the right stuff, allowing zero runs in a complete game effort, shutting out Troy in a complete game which lasted only five innings thanks to the Buffaloes putting up 21 runs.
The offense was boosted by fellow junior Colby Simkins who went 4-for-5 at the plate. Simkins singled in the first, singled in the second, homered in the third, and singled in the fourth.
The offense didn’t take long to get going as Onaga scored five runs in the first frame, starting with Simkins driving in a run on his single. The Buffaloes would score multiple runs in each of the next three innings before finally putting up seven runs in the fifth. Onaga’s offense in the inning was led by Rilyn Mayginnes, Jeramia Dorsey, Hunter Lamond, Fisher, and Simkins, who each had RBIs.
While the offense was clicking on all cylinders, Fisher was just as impressive on the mound. He went five innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, striking out seven and walking one. Always an efficient pitcher, Fisher was exceptional on Thursday, throwing just 62 pitches in the game with 46 of them being strikes.
Junior Preston Christensen took the loss for Troy. He went two innings, allowing eight runs on six hits, striking out four and walking one.
In addition to Simkins’s home run in the third inning, sophomore Rayce Fisher had a four bagger in the first inning. Both hits were the first career home runs for the young men.
Onaga collected 14 hits. Simkins, Jackson Kolterman, Lamond, Jason Abitz, and Fisher each managed multiple hits for the Buffaloes.
In the second game, Onaga weathered a push by the Trojans in the fifth inning where the Buffaloes coughed up four runs, but Onaga still won 16-7.
Both pitching staffs had their hands full, frequently dealing with runners on base. The Buffaloes collected 14 hits and Troy managed five.
In the first inning, Onaga got their offense started early once again. Rayce Fisher drew a walk, scoring the first run. The Buffaloes nearly ended the game early again by putting up five runs in the fifth inning. They put the pressure on, led by a walk by Zac Fisher and a grand slam by Rilyn Mayginnes.
Freshman Jackson Kolterman earned the win for Onaga, going four and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs on three hits and striking out eight. Colby Henneberg threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen to finish out the game after Kolterman had reached his pitch limit for the night.
Junior Austin Grable took the loss for Troy. The hurler surrendered seven runs on five hits over two innings, striking out one.
Having such an efficient first game, Fisher started the game for Onaga. The righthander reached his pitch limit after two more efficient innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out three
Again, the Buffaloes smacked two home runs on the day. Fisher went deep in the third inning before Mayginnes went yard in the fifth inning.
Colby Simkins, Mayginnes, and Fisher led the Buffalo offense with three hits apiece for Onaga.
The Buffaloes got themselves back to .500 on the season and wrapped up their second straight league title in as many varsity seasons as a program. They outscored league foes 60-11 on their way to a 4-0 record. The team looks to continue their winning ways this Friday when it hits the road to Kansas City to take on KC Christian School who enters the games at 7-3 on the year.