***Kendall Vincent is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
The Annawan/Wethersfield varsity Titans flexed their offensive depth on Friday, with the bottom of the lineup leading the charge in a commanding 10-0 shutout victory over the River Ridge/Scales Mound Wildcats.
Jonathan Torres, Clayton Clementz, and Devon Horrie combined for five of the team’s 10 hits, scoring three runs and driving in three to fuel the Titans’ explosive performance.
The Titans wasted no time getting on the board, capitalizing on early defensive miscues by the Wildcats. A costly error, a wild pitch, and a clutch RBI double by Koeyn DeClercq put Annawan/Wethersfield up 3-0 after the first inning.
Clementz kept the pressure on in the second, driving in another run with a sharp single to extend the lead to 4-0. But it was the third inning where the Titans broke the game wide open.
Torres started the scoring spree with an RBI single, followed by a fielder’s choice from Clementz that brought in another run. Nic Thurston then delivered the knockout punch, ripping a two-run single, while yet another Wildcats error allowed a fifth run to cross, making it a dominant 9-0 lead.
On the mound, Torres was untouchable. The right-hander tossed three no-hit innings, striking out four while walking just two. Pierce Childs took over in relief, keeping the Wildcats off the board with two strong innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three.
Annawan/Wethersfield’s offense stayed hot throughout, racking up 10 hits. Maddux Heitzler, Torres, Thurston, and Horrie all recorded multi-hit games, while Clementz and Thurston each drove in two runs. The Titans also showed patience at the plate, drawing six walks, with Kellan Keane and Aaden Verstraete each working two free passes.
Aggressive baserunning played a key role as well, with Heitzler swiping two bags as part of the team’s four stolen bases.
River Ridge/Scales Mound struggled to generate offense, managing just one hit, a single from Aidan Soppe, as the Titans’ pitching staff shut them down from start to finish.
With a relentless offense, stellar pitching, and rock-solid defense, the Titans proved they’re a force to be reckoned with.
