BUHLER, Kan. – May 16, 2023. The last time Jeffrey Neill played in a high school baseball game. Before Tuesday.
Returning from injury, Neill pitched parts of two innings on Tuesday at Wheatland Park and helped his team to a pair of wins over Rose Hill.
With his team up 4-1 in game one, Rose Hill starting pitcher Colton Roberts was on cruise control trough five innings. He allowed just one Buhler run on three hits and recorded eight strike outs. Roberts was lifted in the sixth and the Crusaders took advantage, sending 13 batters to the plate. Six walks, three hit batters, and one single later, Buhler tagged Rocket relivers for seven runs and and came from behind to win, 8-4.
Cash Carson was responsible for the sixth inning single and finished the game 2-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored.
Neill came on to pitch the seventh and recorded a scoreless inning. 356 days after his last appearance.
Buhler would again come from behind to win in game two, 9-5.
After giving up a hit and two runs in the first inning, Buhler starter Dawsyn Valdois was fantastic. He allowed just one more hit and struck out eight over the next five innings.
The Crusaders’ big inning offensively came in the fifth when they tallied six runs on five hits, all with two outs. Three of those runs scored on a Brayden Henry double to deep centerfield. Henry then scored on a double by Jared Miller.
Valois earned his second win on the year and also collected two hits, including a triple.
Softball
They just keep winning. Make it four-in-a-row and 9 of 11 for Buhler softball. A sweep of Rose Hill on Tuesday gives the Crusaders 12 wins in a season for the first time since 2011.
Buhler starter Lillian Horne was great in game one. She allowing just three hits and held Rose Hill scoreless as part of a 10-0 win.
Sydney Quint, Ella Thiessen, and Alexa Adame each collected three hits. Quint also swiped a bag and now holds the single season record for stolen bases with 18.
Adame set her own school record in game two, smacking her fifth home run of the season. Quint and Emmie Stallman also went deep in Buhler’s 10-2 win.
Eight Crusader batters had at least one hit in the game.
Taylor Kesinger got the start in the circle and scattered seven hits over seven innings of work.
