HOPE — Kaydence Gates didn’t find out she would be pitching against Trinity Lutheran on Monday until after warmups, but when she did, the Hauser junior made sure she was ready.
Gates threw a two-hit shutuot to lead the Class A No. 4 Jets to a 10-0, five-inning victory against the Cougars.
“When the time came, he told me I was pitching, so I made sure I worked extra hard, and I made sure I got everything down and I made sure I was really warm,” Gates said. “I always warm up before every game, but I always make sure that I’m good and loose if I know that I’m going in. I think having movement on my ball was really effective today, and it helped us win the game.”
Gates is Hauser’s No. 2 pitcher behind hard-throwing sophomore Paige McDaniel.
“We have been using her a lot more with the speed change between her and Paige,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “The effectiveness that the two of them have, it leaves a lot of teams hindered. With it being a five-inning game, I just let Kaydence finish it. I’m very happy with her. Her spot control is getting a lot better.”
The Jets (14-2-1) got on the board in the first inning on a two-out RBI-single by Kyra Meister. They added six runs in the second, thanks to RBI-singles by Lucie Asher and Izzy Brunner, a two-run single by Reagan Johnson and a two-RBI groundout by Meister.
Hauser added its final three runs in the third, highlighted by an RBI-groundout by Asher and an RBI-bunt single by Izzy Brunner.
“They continue to execute,” Andy Brunner said. “That’s the game plan for everybody, but that’s been our focus all year long — just find a way to get it done. I said it Saturday, I couldn’t be more proud of them. They find a way to constantly get on top, get the wins, get the job done. It’s rewarding to be able to coach them.”
Kenze Bostic went 3 for 3 for the Jets, and Izzy Brunner went 2 for 3 with two RBIs for the Jets, who managed eight hits. Meister had three RBIs, and Johnson added two RBIs.
Bailey Tabeling had both hits for the Cougars (10-7). Grace Lance threw an eight-hitter.
“We knew they were going to be a good team,” Trinity coach Bob Tabeling said. “They’re a strong team all the way around. We knew offensively, we were going to have to put runs on the board because they were. Their pitcher was getting ahead, changing speeds, hitting spots and doing the things that a good pitcher does that’s not going to overpower a team, but she got outs, and that’s a pitcher’s role.”
