Eastern keeps Taylor winless

Comets put run-rule beating on the Titans, 17-3

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The Taylor Titans just wanted a win. Their varsity baseball team had yet to register a victory in the 2025 campaign. But finding the scoreboard against an Eastern Comets team that has bulldozed opponents this year like a juggernaut proved too difficult.

Like they have done to so many other teams this year, the Comets made short work of their county rivals on May 9, racking up a 17-3 victory that invoked the mercy rule for the ninth time this season.

The opening frame seemed promising for the Titans. They held Eastern scoreless. But it was the only inning in which the Comets didn't find home plate. The offensive slaughter that followed made the scoreless first seem like a cruel tease.

The Comets put up eight runs in a punishing second inning that quickly demonstrated the stark difference between the two programs. Eastern is built for a tournament run. Taylor is ready for a rebuild.

Eastern scored a run in the third, six more in the fourth, and two completely unnecessary runs in the fifth remove any doubt about the game's outcome. Taylor did manage to put three runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth, providing a mild moral victory in avoiding the shutout.

Eastern's potent offense featured six players who enjoyed multi-hit performances. Senior Jon Warren went a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a home run and three RBIs. Junior Kaleb Hurt also registered three hits, including a double, and drove in three.

Junior Alister Shrock put up three hits, which featured a double and an RBI. Sophomore Bently Hullinger also had three hits, with two triples and two RBIs.

Senior Perry Kochensparger delivered a double and a single while driving in a pair of runs, and sophomore Trey Beachy went 2-3 with an RBI.

Not to be left out, junior Owen Tolle tripled and drove in two runs, and senior Keaton Musgrave singled in a run.

On Taylor's side of the ledger, the offense came from Eastern's defensive miscues. The Titans managed just a single hit, courtesy of Caleb Santiago, but it didn't generate a run. Instead, a mixture of walks and errors from Eastern allowed Taylor onto the scoreboard.

Eastern's Colin Otto pitched the first four innings against Taylor, giving up three unearned runs on one hit while striking out seven. Owen Seagrave pitched a scoreless fifth inning, striking out one.

Taylor tried three different pitchers against the Comets. Keaton Wiley lasted three innings as the starter, allowing nine runs on 11 hits while striking out one. Austin Yard came on in relief for the fourth inning but surrendered six runs on five hits while striking out one. Brayden Boothby was tapped for the fifth inning, and he allowed two unearned runs on two hits.

The win elevated Eastern to a 15-5 record and started the Comets on a winning streak that has now reached five games. With a record of 19-5, they travel to Walton tonight to face the Lewis Cass Kings (10-9).

Taylor still has not found the win column. The loss against Eastern dropped them to 0-13 and started a streak no team wants to boast. The Titans lost by the run rule five straight games, finally breaking the pattern with a 10-4 loss to Delphi on May 15. Now at 0-19, Taylor hosts Bluffton (14-6) tonight.

See additional photos from this game, including galleries featuring each team, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, at www.kokomolantern.com or on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.