G.I.'s Kalkowski gets past his fatigue
Kash Kalkowski demonstrated just how comfortable he feels in Haymarket Park.
The Grand Island senior and Husker recruit breezed through the first four innings of Grand Island’s state baseball tournament game with Millard North on Wednesday. Then, the effects of pitching on short rest showed up.
Kalkowski surrendered all three runs in the sixth but battled back to retire the side in the seventh inning to earn a 4-3 victory, sending the Islanders to Friday’s 10 a.m. championship game. Millard North will play in an elimination game Thursday at 7 p.m.
“I had about three days rest, but I felt real strong coming out,” said Kalkowski, who also went the distance in the Islanders’ first-round win on Saturday over top-ranked Creighton Prep. “I knew it was fatigue at the end. I just wanted to let the batters put the ball in play and let my outfield and infield do the work for me.“
Working with a 4-0 lead, Kalkowski faltered in the fifth, giving up a hit and two walks before getting a strikeout and a force play to end the threat.
In the Millard North sixth, Ben Homer singled in a run and Ryan Sheetz and Brett Koehn, who both singled, came home on a pair of sacrifice flies before Kalkowski stopped the Mustangs with a strikeout.
In the seventh, Kalkowski went to a full count on all three batters, but got two grounders and then one of his six strikeouts to earn the win.
Catcher Slade Bolles, who threw out leadoff hitter Blake Brisson in the first inning, said Kalkowski had command of all his pitches.
“What didn’t he have working is more the point,” he said. “He loves the surroundings here. This is going to be his home for four more years, so hopefully, he gets real comfortable and has good luck pitching here.“
Grand Island broke on top in the second inning when Nathan Zook singled and Casey Griffin and Brandon Tjaden walked to load the bases. Kirby Wells hit a grounder to third, but Brett Koehn’s throw to the plate was high and wide, allowing both Zook and Griffin to score.
In the third, Luke Farrar doubled and scored another run for Grand Island on a single by Zook.
The Islanders scored what proved to be the winning run in the sixth on one hit, a fielder’s choice and three walks, including a bases-loaded walk by Farrar.
Elkhorn 2, Omaha Gross 1
In Class B, Elkhorn reached the championship game with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Elkhorn catcher Jake Henne led off with a popup that dropped on the infield, a sacrifice and two wild pitches scored the run.
Elkhorn's Pat Johnson allowed just one hit in winning a pitchers' duel against the Cougars' Brandon Winkelmann.
Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.
The Grand Island senior and Husker recruit breezed through the first four innings of Grand Island’s state baseball tournament game with Millard North on Wednesday. Then, the effects of pitching on short rest showed up.
Kalkowski surrendered all three runs in the sixth but battled back to retire the side in the seventh inning to earn a 4-3 victory, sending the Islanders to Friday’s 10 a.m. championship game. Millard North will play in an elimination game Thursday at 7 p.m.
“I had about three days rest, but I felt real strong coming out,” said Kalkowski, who also went the distance in the Islanders’ first-round win on Saturday over top-ranked Creighton Prep. “I knew it was fatigue at the end. I just wanted to let the batters put the ball in play and let my outfield and infield do the work for me.“
Working with a 4-0 lead, Kalkowski faltered in the fifth, giving up a hit and two walks before getting a strikeout and a force play to end the threat.
In the Millard North sixth, Ben Homer singled in a run and Ryan Sheetz and Brett Koehn, who both singled, came home on a pair of sacrifice flies before Kalkowski stopped the Mustangs with a strikeout.
In the seventh, Kalkowski went to a full count on all three batters, but got two grounders and then one of his six strikeouts to earn the win.
Catcher Slade Bolles, who threw out leadoff hitter Blake Brisson in the first inning, said Kalkowski had command of all his pitches.
“What didn’t he have working is more the point,” he said. “He loves the surroundings here. This is going to be his home for four more years, so hopefully, he gets real comfortable and has good luck pitching here.“
Grand Island broke on top in the second inning when Nathan Zook singled and Casey Griffin and Brandon Tjaden walked to load the bases. Kirby Wells hit a grounder to third, but Brett Koehn’s throw to the plate was high and wide, allowing both Zook and Griffin to score.
In the third, Luke Farrar doubled and scored another run for Grand Island on a single by Zook.
The Islanders scored what proved to be the winning run in the sixth on one hit, a fielder’s choice and three walks, including a bases-loaded walk by Farrar.
Elkhorn 2, Omaha Gross 1
In Class B, Elkhorn reached the championship game with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Elkhorn catcher Jake Henne led off with a popup that dropped on the infield, a sacrifice and two wild pitches scored the run.
Elkhorn's Pat Johnson allowed just one hit in winning a pitchers' duel against the Cougars' Brandon Winkelmann.
Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.
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