HUMBOLDT — On a day filled with offensive and defensive stars, few were as bright as Humboldt High’s Sam Hull.
The Cub senior opened Game 1 of the Walter Johnson Tournament Friday with a double, triple and home run, while driving in six in a 14-0 romp over Neodesha.
He then singled twice, tripled and drove in three runs while pitching a complete game in an 8-3 win over Anderson County in the championship game.
“These were probably the most complete games that we have put together all year,” Humboldt head coach Mike Miller said. “This should be a big confidence booster as we head into the final weeks of the season and into regionals.”
The Cubs wasted little time in taking control of the Game 1 win over Neodesha, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring seven in the first inning.
Hull’s RBI triple scored the first run. Colden Cook followed two batters later with another RBI triple. Jacob Harrington drove in a run with a double before Hull drove in two with a double.
The lead remained 7-0 until Humboldt erupted for seven more in the fourth.
Brody Gunderman and Harrington drove in runs with singles, Blake Ellis added two more with a single before Hull’s final blow of the game, a 3-run home run, capped the fun.
Cole Mathes made sure Humboldt didn’t need nearly that much offense. He shut out Neodesha on three hits with four strikeouts in his five-inning complete game.
Hull, Kyler Isbell and Harrington had doubles. Cook and Hull had triples and Hull had the team’s only home run. Ellis singled three times. Gunderman singled twice.
ELLIS got Humboldt off on the right foot against Anderson County with a leadoff home run. Mathes made it 2-0 with a two-out single in the bottom of the second. Mathes scored on a wild pitch before Hull’s RBI single made it 4-0.
The drumbeat continued in the fourth inning. Harrington reached on an error and moved to third on a Mathes single before Hull lofted a sacrifice fly to center.
The Bulldogs broke through with two in the top of the sixth but back-to-back-to-back triples from Mathes, Ellis and Hull made for runs six and seven for the Cubs. Logan Page followed with an RBI single to cap the scoring.
Humboldt racked up 13 hits in the victory.
Ellis had a triple and home run. Hull singled twice and tripled. Cook had a pair of doubles. Mathes had two singles and a triple. Gunderman doubled. Page and Mason Sterling added singles.
