MARLIN — The Granger High School varsity baseball team picked up its second 2A-District 27 victory Monday, April 15 as the Lions beat Chilton High School 13-3 at neutral site Marlin.
As a team, the Lions took advantage of shaky pitching by the Pirates as three Chilton pitchers combined to issue 16 walks on the night.
In the top of the second inning, Granger was able to get on the board with three bases-loaded walks drawn by Caleb Hobratsch, Dayton Knippa and Isaac Lizardo to make it 3-0. Hobratsch came up again in the top of the third frame as his two-run single scored Michael Selucky and Marcus Martinez. The Lions then extended their lead to 7-0 on bases-loaded walks by Wyatt Rochner and Chase Selucky.
Knippa gave Granger another insurance run in the top of the fourth inning as his RBI fielder’s choice brought home Martinez from third base.
The Lions got a scoring outburst in the top of the sixth frame with a two-run double by Hobratsch and would later score on a passed ball, Knippa also scored on a passed ball and Rochner made it 13-0 on a steal of home.
In a strong pitching performance by Rochner, he struck out 12 Chilton batters in six frames, allowed just four hits and all three runs he gave up were in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Lions put the 10-run rule into effect.
Granger (4-20 overall, 2-12 district record), under Head Coach Kody Kuhl, has a bye this week but will return to action Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. hosting Rosebud-Lott High School. The Lions will conclude district play Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m. on the road against Holland High School.
