By ALEX AGUEROS
(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — After dropping two of their last three games on the road, the Warrensburg Post 131 Isotopes returned home to sweep a double header against Clinton Friday night. Dylan Riley and Lauden Wheeler dominated in their respective starts and the offense never let up as Warrensburg mercy-ruled Post 14 Clinton in both games — 11-1 in game one, and 14-4 in game two.
Post 131 struck first in game one after a pair of doubles from Riley and Wheeler earned the Isotopes a quick 2-0 lead. The offense, relentless the entire evening, kept the runs coming, scoring in every inning but the fifth. Assistant coach Andrew Kenney was pleased with the offense’s performance.
“We hit the ball a lot better than we had,” Kenney said. “We had a good approach and need to keep up our confidence at the plate.”
Riley started the game for Warrensburg, and allowed just one run six innings. Riley permitted only five base runners during his outing, the only blemish coming in the fifth when he allowed a run on two walks and a sacrifice fly. The run helped Clinton dodge the mercy rule, if only for one inning.
After a scoreless fifth for Warrensburg, Brett Marr led off the sixth inning with a walk and promptly stole second base, his third steal of the night. Lauden Wheeler drilled a game-ending RBI single into left field, securing an 11-1 win for Post 131.
The offense’s production was a welcome sight to head coach Jim Sales after recently losing games against Raymond-Peculiar and Chillicothe.
“Those are good ball clubs and we made some mistakes that cost us,” Sales said. “Tonight, I thought we did what we had to do.”
Warrensburg’s offense wasted no time blowing the second game wide open, scoring 10 runs in the first inning. The first inning bludgeoning saw 14 Isotope batters, highlighted by a Brett Marr inside-the-park home run.
Third baseman Kye Denker went 2-3 with a walk in game two, including a bases-clearing double in the first inning. Denker also ended the game when an errant pickoff attempt from Clinton’s catcher soared into left field, allowing for a relaxed saunter home from third.
“I wanted to get us a win and go home,” Denker said. “I saw the he ball sail over my shoulder and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh!’ and scored pretty easily.”
The run put Warrensburg up 14-4 in the fifth, enacting the mercy rule and sealing the win. The sweep kept Post 131 undefeated at home and moved their overall record to 7-3.