After overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to start the game, varsity baseball snuck past East Kentwood in the final innings. The offense was clicking all game for FHC, led by sophomores Ty Hudkins and JT Hartman, who tallied a total of four hits and four RBIs that led the Rangers to their season-opening 10-9 win. 

Sophomore Carson Custer started on the mound for FHC, and although he struggled at times, his two innings to start the game were mostly strong. Despite giving up two runs, he struck out two batters in the second inning to end an overall good start. 

The bats woke up in the bottom half of the second. Senior Josh Smith got on base with an infield single, and right after him, JT drove a single into center field. The scoring began the next at-bat when Ty put a ball into the right-center gap for an RBI double. A 2-1 deficit after two innings left the Rangers having to rely heavily on offense. 

Senior Matthew Mittlestadt took the mound in the third inning and was strong, striking out two batters but giving up a run to end the top of the third. In the bottom of the third, the Rangers finally got a rally going. Fellow senior Joe Robertson got on base with a single and thanks to an error by the Falcons’ first baseman, Joe moved over to second base. Senior Joe Seurynck drove a single into left the next at-bat, putting runners at the corners for FHC.

With runners at the corners, Josh came up to the plate and smacked a double into the outfield, scoring a run to cut the deficit to 3-2. Senior Beau Coughlin walked to load up the bases, and next at-bat, JT grounded a ball up the middle of the infield for a single to drive in two runs. Ty drove a single into right field and drove in two runs in the process as well, tallying the lead to a 6-3 margin in favor of FHC to end the third. 

Joe Robertson took over on the mound in the top of the fourth and despite giving up a run, he finished the inning strong to go into the bottom of the fourth with a 6-4 advantage. The Falcons came storming back, scoring a couple of runs in the fifth. While the FHC bats were hot, the game turned into a back-and-forth match between offenses. Senior Kaeden Palmitier came in later in the game and went two-for-two at the plate, driving in a couple of crucial runs for the Rangers that ultimately closed out the game. The Rangers snuck out with a 10-9 win and are hoping to build on the win going into spring break.

Now at 1-0, the boys’ next game will be after spring break to start the month of April. The Rangers will take the field next on Wednesday, April 13, at home against rival and OK-White favorite Forest Hills Northern. There will be two games that day, with game one starting at 4:15 PM and game two at 6:15 PM.