Kirkwood Baseball

Clark injured as No. 10 Eagles split

Cal Clark looked like he'd just fought 15 rounds with Rocky Balboa Wednesday afternoon, but the Kirkwood second baseman vowed to play baseball again this season after suffering six fractured bones in his face after being hit by a pitch against Indian Hills.

The accident happened in the first game of the doubleheader at Kirkwood when Clark was hit by an inside fastball that caught part of his batting helmet and part of the left side of his face.

He stayed at the ballpark for awhile after being treated by the Kirkwood trainer, but then went to the hospital with his mother and returned to the park a few hours later.

Clark's left eye was black-and-blue and completely shut due to the injury. The left side of his face was swollen and he was still trying to staunch a bloody nose.

He appeared to be in good spirits, everything considered, and was embraced by his worried teammates upon his return to the field.

Kirkwood split the twinbill with Indian Hills, winning the second game 6-1 after dropping the opener 6-4.

"I feel OK," he insisted. "It's obviously pretty sore, but it will go away soon.

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Kaste sparks Eagles past Indian Hills

Miranda Kaste waited three years to enjoy a day like this for the Kirkwood softball team.

Kaste sparkled as a relief pitcher and then drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Eagles trim Indian Hills, 4-3, in the first game of their non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Kirkwood.

Kirkwood exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win the second game, 9-1.

Kaste enrolled at Kirkwood in 2015 as a middle infielder, but she broke her left leg in practice that fall and did not recover in time to play during the 2016 campaign.

She had a metal plate and screws removed from her leg during the summer of 2016, but developed a stress fracture in the leg and had to watch the entire 2017 season come and go as well.

Finally healthy this year, Kaste has been a key utility player for the Eagles as an infielder and emergency relief pitcher after several other pitchers left the program.

Tuesday was her day to shine.

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No. 8 Eagles sweep Northeast CC

NORFOLK, Neb. - The eighth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles got strong pitching Sunday and swept their conference doubleheader from Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb.

Hunter Lee tossed a four-hitter with 12 strikeouts as the Eagles defeated Northeast, 5-1, in the first game.

Cameron Leff pitched six strong innings in an 11-1 triumph in the nightcap, allowing one run on four hits with eight strikeouts.

Lee and Leff raised their records to 6-1.

Ellison Hanna hit a home run and drove in three runs for Kirkwood in the first game. Izaya Fullard also had an RBI for the Eagles.

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KCC baseball team spins 1-hitter

CENTERVILLE - Jake McLaughlin, Trey Cowley and Kirby Kerr combined on a one-hitter Thursday as the Kirkwood Eagles blanked Indian Hills, 4-0, in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader in Centerville.

Indian Hills won the second game, 10-2.

McLaughlin (1-0) pitched the first four innings for the Eagles. He did not allow any hits, with four strikeouts and three walks.

Cowley tossed 1 2/3 innings and allowed the only hit, with two strikeouts and a walk. Kerr, who began the game in right field, pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and was credited with a save. Kerr struck out three batters and walked two.

The eighth-ranked Eagles scored all four of their runs in the opener in the second inning. Kerr, who was 2-for-3 as a hitter, drove in two runs in the inning. Korry Howell also had an RBI.

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