Monday, September 2: The LJHS baseball team battled throughout the holiday weekend to come out the other side with a 2-1 record (4-7 overall). Friday night the Eagles traveled to Kinderhook to face Western JH. Although a defensive clinic this was not, Liberty took advantage of mistakes on the other side and got several timely hits to defeat the Wildcats, 19-12. Devon Funk led the way with three hits and five runs scored. Jackson Sims, Levi Hoener, Jacob Davis, Lucas Logsdon, and Aiden Koch chipped in with two hits a piece with Sims, Hoener, Davis, Jack Lentz, and Carson Baucom notching multi-RBI games to further the cause.

Aiden Koch (2-0) threw 5-2/3 innings, giving up seven earned runs, with three K's. Jacob Davis came on to throw the final inning and 1/3 (0 ER, 3 K). 

Saturday, the Eagles were back home, intent on revenging a loss to Brown County from a couple days earlier. Despite another solid outing from starting pitcher, Levi Hoener (0-3), the Eagles couldn't find the big hit against the Hornets, falling 8-5. Hoener began the game retiring BC's lineup in order the first time through. He hit a snag in the 4th, however, walking the leadoff man, then giving up four straight hits, including a three-run homerun. Hoener ended up striking out 10, quite a feat in the five innings he threw. Gavin Fessler and Jack Lentz both threw well in relief to give the Eagles a chance in the end. 

Jarred Owens got the offense going from the top of the order with two hits, including a double. Hoener paced the team with two RBI to help his cause. The Eagles failed to get the big hit they needed, however, stranding eight runners throughout the course of the game.

Monday saw another squad, in the form of Camp Point Central, come to town that had gotten the best of Liberty earlier in the season. This time the Eagles put together a complete game, with stellar pitching, outstanding defense, and some timely hits to end on top of the Panthers, 3-2.

LJHS got things rolling right away after a Jarred Owens single to lead-off the game. A sacrifice bunt and a Jackson Sims single later, the Eagles were on the board. In the fourth, tied 2-2, Lucas Logsdon delivered the go-ahead RBI, plating Jacob Davis. 

Although the offense often gets the glory, pitching and defense are what LJHS should be proudest of in the win. Noah Klauser (W, 1-1), Gavin Fessler (HLD, 1), and Sims (S, 1) combined for five Ks and only one walk. Giving the defense opportunities paid off as the Eagles played an errorless game in the field, recording 10 of the remaining 16 outs on balls in the air.

The Eagles return to action Tuesday, hitting the road for a 4:30 PM start, to face Quincy Catholic at Upper Moorman Park in Quincy.