Chandler Coates and the Tigers took only an hour and 15 minutes to dispatch Carl Junction 5-0 on a windy day at Willard Friday. Coates struck out nine and allowed just four base hits as he pitched a complete-game shutout.
Republic scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead, and that was all Coates needed. He used a cutting fastball and a good breaking pitch to keep the Bulldogs in check all day. The defense also turned in several good plays behind him.
“The fastball had a lot of run on it today, but a lot of it (was) the defense being able to make plays so I’m able to pound the strike zone with multiple pitches,” Coates says. “They make plays… so it keeps me going the way I want it to go.”
Carl Junction put two runners on in the 4th but Coates got a strikeout to end the inning. The Bulldogs had runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out in the 6th, but Coates got an infield popup and a weak ground ball to close out that threat.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Tigers added three more runs when Ryan Cape, Regan Butterworth, and Gage Morris all reached base to start the inning. Landin Sigman drove home a run with a groundout, then freshman Gus Bauer fought off several pitches before delivering a ground ball base hit up the middle to score two more. Bauer got the game ball from coach Howard Quigley after the game.
“I was looking for a pitch I could drive up the middle. Just looking for a pitch I could get a base hit and score some runs. We needed the runs there,” Bauer says. “It feels awesome. I’m definitely excited about the opportunity I have to play varsity baseball.”
Coates retired the Bulldogs in order in the 7th to end the game. With the shutout, he lowered his earned run average to 1.17. He has struck out 19 batters in 18 innings pitched.
The Tigers have a week off before playing at home against Aurora and Camdenton next Saturday.