***Dillon Price is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.

Kewanee started their week with a trip to Sterling Newman and lost 8-7. 

Senior Colson Welgat threw the first two and two-thirds innings, allowing three unearned runs on one hit and seven walks while striking out five. Junior Logan Peed relieved Welgat for three and two-thirds innings, allowing three earned runs and two unearned runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts. 

Offensively, the Boilers got off to a hot start, scoring five through the first two innings before stalling and only getting two more runs in the final five innings. 

The offense was led by the bats of seniors Ben Taylor and Welgat and junior Griffin Hicks. Taylor went two for two at the plate with two walks, scored two runs, and got two RBIs. Welgat went two for four with a run and three RBIs. Griffin Hicks went three for three with a walk and a run scored.

The next day, the team was back on the road, traveling to Geneseo, and lost 13-3. Senior Landon Sheets started on the mound, throwing two and a third allowing one earned run and three unearned runs on three hits with a strikeout. 

Hicks got two outs to finish the third inning while allowing four runs on three hits and two walks. Senior Dillon Price threw the last inning, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. 

Offensively, Welgat and Sheets each had two of Kewanee’s five hits.

Thursday afternoon, Kewanee hosted Sterling Newman for the second game of the conference series, and the Boilers lost 21-3. 

Sheets took the bump for Kewanee and threw two innings while allowing 10 runs on nine hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Junior Brady Schiltz threw the next two innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with two walks. 

Junior Abram Hicks pitched the final inning allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. 

At the plate, Welgat went two for three with an RBI and Taylor went two for three with two runs scored.

The Boilers ended the week in Sherrard and won 11-6. Senior Lincoln Mason threw six and a third innings, allowing four earned and two unearned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out five. 

Price came in as relief and got the final two outs, five pitches with a strikeout. 

Offensively, the Boilers were firing on all cylinders, led by Welgat, who went three for three with a triple, two walks, two runs scored, and two RBIs and Griffin Hicks, who went two for three with a double, a walk, a run scored and three RBIs.

JVs win one, lose one

The JV squad started their week with a 12-2 win at home over Sterling Newman. Sophomore Isaiah Ince pitched all five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Freshman Reid Nichols led the offense with three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored with a walk.

The following day, the team hosted Geneseo and lost 13-1. Nichols had another multi-hit game.