NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat High Hawks catcher Landon MacPherson reaches out to catch a pitch during the Hawks 12-0 win Tuesday night at Jeffries Field over the Kate Andrews Pride.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat High Hawks recognized their senior players Tuesday.
The Hawks honoured their four graduating players ahead of a four-inning 12-0 win over the Kate Andrews Pride at Jeffries Field. They held a pre-game ceremony for Talen Crockford, Landon MacPherson, Parker Hunt and Cade Moch.
“It’s always nice to be able to celebrate not just the kids but also involving their parents and the road that they’ve taken to get here,” head coach Cam Rittinger said. “A lot of parents follow all summer, all year, some even coach, so to get them to their final spot, especially with a couple of our guys going to college and representing that, that’s important for us.”
MacPherson and Crockford led the offence Tuesday, with two RBIs each, also tallying a hit and a run scored. Moch started the game and recorded eight strikeouts in three innings of work. Hunt added an RBI with a hit, a run scored and worked an inning.
“Cade was pitching tremendously well, had the curveball working, he’s worked really hard. I would say out of most of the guys, he’s worked the hardest and is most improved from last year to this year and it’s noticeable,” Rittinger said. “Crockford is a guy he’s just fun to be around. He kind of brings a light heartedness to the game. He’s joking around with the guys, he keeps everything easy.
“Parker Hunt, he’s a versatile kid who you can play him anywhere, he pitches, he plays infield, plays outfield, a very versatile player and a good kid to have on the team. And then Landon McPherson, behind the dish, he’s solid for us, he was solid last year for us and is solid again for us this year. He’s just kind of a guy that you lean on and he’s gonna catch every inning. He said to me sometimes he wants to pitch but I said, well, who’s gonna catch then?”
The Hawks are back in action on the road Thursday, taking on Catholic Central High School and Magrath High School. They’re 5-1 on the season and Rittinger says he likes the place the group is in.
“We’ve come off four wins in a row, so we’re hoping to just keep that ball rolling,” Rittinger said. “We had a couple of good games last week. 5-1, 5-2, close ballgames. That’s what we’re looking for so that when we get into the tournament, anything can happen. But when you play those close games like that, it’s important, because that’s what’s going to happen and those little things, they’re going to win ballgames.”
