Longhorns sweep two from Gateway

LOGAN - In a rematch of the last two Class A baseball championship games, Logan earned a convincing doubleheader sweep Friday against Gateway Christian in the Longhorns' home opener.

The Longhorns (3-0) prevailed 13-3 in the opener and 10-0 in the nightcap, with both games shortened by the mercy rule.

In the first game, Logan ace Kaeden Stoner struck out 15, walked five, allowed two hits and was credited with only one earned run allowed in six innings. With the bat, Stoner also went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Stoner consistently befuddled Gateway's batters except for the third inning, when he allowed three walks, two hits and three runs. That rally briefly tied the game 3-3.

"He just struggled a bit to find the (strike) zone," Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said. "Thing was, I was proud of him for coming out the next inning and making it three up, three down. He did a good job recovering and regrouping."

The Longhorns scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning to take an 8-3 lead and seize back momentum.

They added two in the fifth and three in the six, ending the game via the 10-run rule.

Brock Burns, Mason Wallin and Park Strong each drove in two runs for Logan. Logan rapped 13 hits during the game, burning through four Gateway pitchers in the process.

"We've only been practicing for a week," Griffith said. "This was our first real test, and overall I thought we looked pretty good. I felt like we put the ball in play. We didn't hit it real hard, but at least we were making contact and had a lot of good things happen."

The Longhorns also stole 20 bases off the Warriors during the first game, consistently putting runners in scoring position.

"I figured we can keep stealing until they throw us out," Griffiths said. "We just keep sending them until they show us different."

In the second game, Logan scored two in the second inning and four each in the third and fourth innings to take control.

Starter Burns and reliever Strong combined for a no-hitter, striking out 14 while walking only one.

Burns helped his cause by going 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and three RBI. Colton Liles and Skyler DeLuca drove in two runs each.

Gateway fell to 1-4.

Logan was scheduled to travel Monday to Roswell to play Gateway Christian in another doubleheader. (The games were after the Quay County Sun's deadline.)

Logan 24, Floyd 4

The Longhorns grabbed a 15-0 lead after two innings and cruised to a 24-4 season-opening win over Floyd on March 20.

Strong went 4-for-4 for the Logan with two doubles, two triples and five RBI.

Aydin Kotara and Diego Sanchez each drove in three runs as the Longhorns banged out 19 hits, drew six walks and were hit by six pitches.

A committee of Sanchez, Strong, Stoner and Burns pitched five innings for Logan.

Floyd fell to 0-3.