By Audrey Dodgen/Staff Writer

The El Reno High School baseball squad advanced to 3-0 on the season and started its conference play 2-0 with wins over the Noble Bears Monday and Tuesday.

Senior lefty Mike Hefta threw a complete game two-hitter Tuesday in the Indians 3-0 win at Noble.

“He totally dominated, especially in the second half,” head coach Mark Ward said. “He was really the story of this game.”

The Indians picked up eight hits in the contest and committed no errors.

Dylan Hughey opened the scoring for the Indians. In the third inning, Hughey landed a double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Jay Weekley. Hughey then scored on a passed ball. He was 2-for-3 in the game and scored two of the Indians three runs.

In the sixth inning, Lorenzo Robinson, who was 2-for-3 at the plate, hit a double with two outs. Rhoades plated him with a single. Robinson was 2-for-3.

Caleb Koos and Joe Halley were both 1-for-3 on the night.

Ward said he was pleased with his team’s hitting and his pitcher.

“Hefta threw 97 pitches and he was in control throughout the game, especially from the third inning on,” he said.

The Indians have given up a total of six runs in three games, but the pitching staff has tallied only one earned run.

“I’m pretty pleased that we’re only averaging two runs per game,” Ward said.

The junior varsity squad dropped a 6-3 decision to the Bears.

“We gave up six runs in the first inning, when we really struggled to throw strikes. After that first inning, we didn’t give up any mroe runs,” Ward said.

El Reno 8, Noble 2

In El Reno’s second game of the season, the Indians toppled the Bears with an 8-2 victory at home.

Clint Maune earned the win, throwing a complete game.

Senior Scott Gholston led the team’s offensive production, reaching base three times in four at-bats and picking up three RBIs.

Chandon Vieweg was two-for-three on the night, including a double in the fourth inning to score Gholston.

The Indians held a four-run lead heading into the fourth inning, when the Bears scored.
They scored again in fifth inning to cut the lead to two.

Noble loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning, when third baseman Seth Herren fielded a ground ball, stepped on the bag and threw to first for the double play.

In the bottom of the inning, Rhoades pinch hit and scored Maune on a double. He added to the Indians’ lead when he scored on a Koos single.

“That set of events, getting out of a tight inning and adding two runs, was really the turning point for us in the game,” Ward said.

“The key was how productive our scoring was late in the game. Our offense got down bunts when we needed to, and we were able to execute inning-by-inning. Our goal is to score one run each inning, and we were able to reach that goal with eight runs in seven innings.”

Ward said the game’s pitching started slowly, but was effective in later innings.

“Maune struggled a little to throw strikes early. He had a lot of nerous energy. He was really hyped up for that game. Once he got settled in, he took over. He struck out five of the last six batters in the game. He pitched like he’s capable and it was really impressive. He really dominated in the last two innings,” he said.