Fort Calhoun pitchers struggled to find the strike zone Thursday as the Pioneers opened the season with a 10-0 home loss to Class B No. 10 Omaha Concordia.
The next night, though, Justin Myer had no problem.
“Absolutely pounded the zone,” Pioneers coach Roy Prauner said Friday after FCHS' 9-2 road win at Genoa Twin River. “He threw 88 pitches, so was very efficient all night.”
Myer, a senior left-handed pitcher, tossed all seven innings and struck out a school-record 14 batters during the win — the Pioneers first of the spring. He also logged two RBIs at the plate.
“Team did a great job battling at the plate and extending innings,” Prauner said.
After not scoring a run Thursday, Calhoun notched its first Friday during the top of the first frame. It scored another during the second and built a 5-0 advantage with a three-run fourth.
The Pioneers extended their lead to 9-0 with a four-run sixth inning before Myer closed out the game from the mound. Zach Faucher, Tristan Fuhrman and Myer were among the FCHS batters to log multiple hits, while Sam Halford and Jake Seina pushed across runs alongside their teammates.
“Still have some work to do with baserunning,” Prauner said. “But, overall, I thought it was a positive step forward after last night's game.”
Concordia tops FC in opener
Concordia notched 10 runs during Thursday's five-inning affair, but registered just four total hits. The Pioneers, meanwhile, tallied no runs on zero hits.
Prauner made the season's first mound visit during the top of the first inning as Seina, the starter, walked the bases full with one out. The senior worked his way out of the jam, however, earning his second strikeout and forcing a ground ball to Halford, who flipped the ball to shortstop Ty Hallberg at second base for the inning-ending out.
During the bottom half of the first frame, the Pioneers also earned base runners. Faucher and Myer drew walks, but a groundout ended the scoring threat.
The Mustangs responded, outscoring Calhoun 8-0 during the second frame. A bunt single loaded the bases before Seina walked in the Mustangs' first run of the spring.
Hallberg and Faucher also went on to pitch during the inning with Faucher finally ending it with a strikeout. The third out didn't come before eight Concordia runs touched home plate, though.
The Pioneers, arguably, got their best work on the mound from Myer, who started the game behind the plate. Seina, FCHS' starter, caught scoreless baseball from the lefty, who secured the final out of the third inning before notching two strikeouts during a quick fourth.
Concordia would go on to score two more runs during the fifth frame, however, securing the opening day win by run rule.
Myer's two-game total for strikeouts, however, is 16. The Calhoun season record for strikeouts is 45 — set by assistant coach Brennan Clausen in 2017.
