Four hits more than enough for Central Catholic

Written by
SAM KING

 It wasn't pretty, but Central Catholic's baseball team passed a good early season test.

The Class A No. 1 Knights got three RBIs each from Andrew Hubertz and Evan Kennedy in a 7-3 victory over Western at Leming Field.

In search of a fourth consecutive Class A state championship, CC begins its 2012 campaign with wins on consecutive days.

The Knights jumped on Western early.

A pair of first-inning walks provided an opportunity for Hubertz to see fastballs. He took advantage, smashing one over the left field fence for a 3-0 lead.

"He gave me one to drive because he was getting a little rattled walking so many people in a row," Hubertz said. I just found one I could hit and got ahold of it.

Kennedy smacked a two-run single during a three-run second inning to give CC a 6-0 lead. Kennedy also doubled in Ryan DeBoy, who scored three runs, in the fourth.

CC had just four hits and 11 of its 18 outs were strikeouts.

"Andrew's home run and Evan had a two-run hit in the gap, outside of that we didn't really hit the ball very well," coach Tim Bordenet said. "Hopefully we'll get the bats going a little bit better. But the main things we want to do is throw strikes and play defense."

The Panthers (1-1) scored all three of their runs in the third, two of them unearned.

CC starting pitcher Austin Munn (1-0) struggled early, walking three in the first two innings and committing an error when he failed to touch the bag when covering first base on a routine grounder.

"Its been an ongoing thing since my freshman year," Munn said. "I've got to work with a lead. I know that teammates are going to make defensive plays for me all night."

Munn walked four, but struck out eight and allowed four hits in five innings. DeBoy and Hubertz pitched scoreless innings.