CEDAR RAPIDS – It wasn’t long before Cedar Rapids Xavier got back into the routine of high-performance offense and concrete pitching.
The Saints knocked Benton Community 7-1 behind Cal Winker’s arm and Adam Pick’s bat last night.
“We had some pretty good swings tonight, but it all started with pretty good pitching,” said coach Dave Schemmel. “We had a track where we just couldn’t strike. The pitchers threw well tonight and that is the key. “
With six strong innings, players like Winker help fill the void for the youngest Major League Baseball draftsman, Mitch Keller. Although impossible to take on such a role, Winker said they are doing their best.
“I didn’t train that much in the off-season, but the coaches have me with them now because I have to be one of the leading pitchers,” said Winker. “I will get more parking spaces and try to fill this position.”
While Winker was busy doing his part on the hill, Pick knocked out a grand slam in the second inning, bringing the score to 6-1. Pick was in a slump, hitting below .200.
Pick and his coaches agree that scoring this badly was unusual for him and hope that last night’s game was the start of getting back on track.
“Adam needed something like this,” said Schemmel. “So that he can make some good turns, hopefully he’ll remember his approach to this kind of thing.”
Pick said he knew the ball was gone as soon as he got off the racket. He said it would be nice to go back to where he wants to be as a batsman.
“I just have to stay on the ball again. Just wait back and drive the ball to the opposite side of the field, ”said Pick.
After losing someone like Keller, the Saints begin to re-examine and adjust.
‘We lost a couple of games that we should have won. And our players know that, ”said Schemmel. “We have in mind that we can play better than the games we lost.”
Pick said there is obviously room for improvement. “We can be a much better team,” he said.
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