LAMAR, Mo. — It's required a couple of close one-run games, a pitching performance to make up for the offense, and then the offense has also busted loose to score in double figures three times. No matter how the team has done it, Lamar has found itself in the middle of a perfect start to the season.
The Tigers baseball team is 8-0 heading into the middle of April and was featured in the eighth spot of the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association's top 10 rankings for Class 3.
"It means a lot. Especially to the seniors in this class. A lot of them are three-year and four-year starters in the program. They've won two district championships in a row. It's nice for them to be recognized," Lamar head coach Chase Kilgore said.
Kilgore, a graduate of Pittsburg State University, where he played baseball, is in his first year at the helm of the program. He coached under Scott Quinly last year.
He's seen this group flourish so far this season, and he talked about what's been working.
"We have a pretty good group. We have a lot of senior leaders with this group. They've been playing loose and having fun. Our pitching staff is doing a phenomenal job right now," Kilgore said. "We've had two complete games so far. Our defense is playing pretty solid behind them as well. And then we try to be aggressive on the bases and offensively."
The Tigers' two complete-game pitching performances came in their last two games from Trent Torbeck and Gage Shaw. They won those games 3-2 over East Newton and 12-3 over Aurora. The win over Aurora came Thursday night.
The pitching has been stellar, to say the least. Opponents are averaging just three runs per game and have only scored 24 all season. Meanwhile, Lamar has crossed home plate 69 times this year for an average of eight to nine runs per game.
In five games, opponents have failed to score even four runs against the Tigers. Lamar has held the opposition to one run three times.
Kilgore said he's been talking with his team this week about not allowing the top 10 ranking to satisfy them. He wants to see his team keep working, "prove something this year" and not get complacent.
He says his strong defense has been anchored by an outfield consisting of Brayden Wolfe in left field, Alex Wilkerson in center and TJ Ansley in right. When Torbeck is on the mound, Trey Pittsenbarger has been holding down the shortstop position, and the coach says he's been playing "a good infield" no matter where he's positioned.
Kilgore discussed the 8-0 start to his head coaching career as well.
"I feel really blessed to have the group we do. We have a lot of talent and a lot of guys with high baseball IQ," he said. "I can't say enough about our senior class. They've bought in, and they're great leaders in that aspect. We laid a solid foundation (with Quinly) last year and returned eight or nine starters. We have to keep building off that."
