Emporia High junior Owen Ruge had a performance to remember on the mound in the second game of a doubleheader against Junction City Tuesday night at Soden’s Grove.
Ruge threw a complete game two-hit shutout while striking out nine in a 1-0 victory over the Blue Jays. Ruge said his three pitches, fastball, slider and splitter were working.
The Spartans’ lone run in the nightcap came on a Junction City error with freshman Jackson Meinke scoring from third.
Before Ruge’s shutout performance, the Spartans won the opener, 12-3.
Emporia High trailed 2-0 after the first inning but scored five in the second and never looked back. The Spartans tallied two in both the third and the fourth and three in the fifth. Sophomore Chase Harrington earned the win on the mound, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and three strikeouts, while also going 3-for-3 at the plate. Junior Andrew Ruxton closed the door, allowing one hit in the final 2 1/3 innings. Junior Madden Seidl and senior Aiden Ewing each had three hits.
Emporia High coach Anthony Markowitz said putting up 13 runs in a doubleheader was a good sign to see.
Emporia High is now 4-2 on the season, 2-0 in the Centennial League. The Spartans travel to Washburn Rural on Friday.
