North Kansas City played their first baseball in over two years, and once they knocked the rust off, played very well, although they dropped both games of a double-header in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday.

Game one was against the host school, Hickman and they jumped on the Hornets early scoring eight in the first inning against a shaky Hornet defense. Northtown settled down after the first and pitchers Dayton Horn and Layne Campbell only allowed one hit and two runs the rest of the game. The story for NKC on offense was missed opportunities. The Hornets stranded two baserunners on in all five of their home at bats not being able to push across any runs against a tough Kewpie pitching staff. Only three players had hits against Hickman and Bobby Grado and Brett Kamler were the only ones to reach base twice. Grado had a hit and a walk and Kamler had two walks. The defense did finally heat up with two spectatular plays in the third inning. A line drive snag by Anian Nicolas at shortstop and a sliding grab in center by Diamonds Cooper. The game was ended by run rule after five with the Kewpies notching their first victory of the year.

In game two, the Hornets matched up against Class 5 powerhouse Willard. Northtown wasted no time jumping on the Tigers in the first after Diamonds Cooper reached on an error to start the game, then stole second. He would score on the Bobby Grado single two batters later and the purple and gold held their first lead of the season. Pitching was also a highlight for the Hornets in the second game featuring a solid inning and 2/3rds by Noah Devero who allowed only one run on two hits and a spectacular 4 1/3 innings by Andrew Krueger who stymied Willard batters striking out five. Krueger was the hard-luck loser after the Hornets tacked on a run in the second, but Willard took the lead for good in the fifth after scoring two runs on no hits.

Plenty of fans made it to Hickman to watch the game and it was great to see so many NKC hoodies and hats in the stands.

The Hornets don't have any time to lick their wounds as they play again on Monday against neighborhood foe St. Pius X at their sports facility at 4 pm.

GAME NOTES:

• Northtown stranded 13 baserunners in both games
• Pelico, Nicolas, and Grado each had a hit in both games with an RBI by Grado in game two
• Willard and Hickman played in game 3 and Willard beat the Kewpies 1-0 in eight innings proving that all three teams that played today were evenly matched.