Not even a wind advisory or a matchup with their biggest rival could put a dent in Lyle-Pacelli's momentum as the Athletics baseball team came out swinging in a 13-2 six inning win over Southland in Marcusen Park Thursday.
LP (17-1 overall) locked up the Southeast Conference title with the win and it has now won 16 games in a row.
LP senior Hunter VaDeer took advantage of the strong wind early on as he hit a three-run homer to left field in the first inning and he belted a two-run homer to left center in the second inning to push LP's lead to 7-0. VaDeer now has eight homers on the season and he's looking to keep up with his future Creighton University teammate Nick Bowron, who currently has 11 homers for Rochester Lourdes.
"I've still got to catch up to Nick," VaDeer said. "We've struggled with hitting in some of our past games, but we worked on a lot of situational hitting yesterday and we got a lot of reps in. We put it on them right away and didn't let up."
VaDeer, who finished with five RBIs, also struck out nine in four innings to score the pitching win.
While VaDeer has been in the spotlight for LP for a few years now, Thursday's game served as senior night, which gave the team a chance to honor all of its seniors - including Isaac Small, a senior outfielder who drew three walks and scored a run against Southland (13-4 overall).
Small has embraced his chance to contribute for an LP team that has made school history with its back-to-back Section 1A titles in the past two seasons.
"Everything I do goes into this, and to see it pay off, feels great," Small said. "We just have to stay consistent and be ourselves."
VaDeer said that Small, and the other seniors, have always pushed each other to stay busy and stay ready in the offseason.
"Isaac has been side by side with us since he was on JV with us as an eighth grader. He's been working for his spot and this year and last year, he's come up big," VaDeer said. "He's had some big moments at the plate. Over the years, us seniors have all stuck together and held each other to get in the batting cage and throw in the offseason. We just try to hold everyone accountable."
Small was in a unique position on Thursday as the wind was so strong it was shaking the roof boards on Marcusen Park, rattling the flag pole, and even downing some trees in Austin city limits.
"When it gets up there in the wind, it just starts to spiral. You've just got to stay back on it and make the play," Small said.
LP hitting: Grady Meyer, 1-for-2, 3 R, 2 BBs; Landon Meyer, 2-for-3, 3 R, BB; VaDeer, 2-for-2, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 R, 2 BBs; Logyn Brooks, 2-for-4, RBI, 3 R; Dawson Jenkins, 1-for-3, BB; Isaac Small, 0-for-1, 3 BBs, SB, R; Hunter Wollenburg, 1-for-2, RBI, BB, SB; Case Koopal, 0-for-2, BB; Banning Korfhage, 0-for-3
Southland pitching: Cole Miller (L) 1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 ER, 1 K; Maverick Hanna, 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 5 BBs, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 K; Noah Goergen, 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 3 BBs, 1 ER,