Williams brothers stymie Demons in sweep

(Fresh/soph duo is 4-0 on the year as Hounds lead Southeast Conference)

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

WASHINGTON - Landes and Kane Williams are pretty stingy on the mound this year. And the Fort Madison Bloodhound defense has their backs.

The two both threw complete game wins in Tuesday's makeup doubleheader at Washington, and Fort Madison is now 4-1 on the year.

Landes Williams opened the night with a four-hitter in a 3-1 win, where he didn't allow a walk and struck out six Demons.

Jason Thurman went 2-for-4 on the night with a double and 2 RBI, while sophomore Tate Johnson had a triple and Vasin Thurman had the other RBI.

Fort Madison jumped in front in the top of the first when Landes Williams reached on an error at short and Thurman doubled to right field moving to Williams to third. After Brandon Reichelt struck out swinging, Vasin Thurman grounded to third scoring Williams for a 1-0 lead. A fly out by Turnbull would end the inning..

Williams would give up just three hits, all singles, through the sixth inning without giving up a run.

In the third Fort Madison tacked on another run. Garrett Hannum hit a grounder to 3rd and would advance to 2nd on the play as Wilx Witthoft's throw got away. Hannum would advance to third when Sanders grounded out to 1st and he would come around to score on Jason Thurman's grounder to second. Reichelt would fly out to center to end the inning.

In the 7th, the Hounds put up an insurance run by Burgher when he walked to start the inning. Burgher would steal 2nd and move to 3rd on a Landes Williams ground out. Jason Thurman would then lace a drive to right field plating Burgher. Reichelt again would fly out to center to move to the bottom half.

Washington would avoid the shutout when Reece Mayer would homer on a line drive to right. But Williams would settle in and get Ethan Zieglowsky to fly out to Johnson in center for the win.

In the nightcap, Kane Williams went the whole way allowing just two hits and three walks, while striking out three. Williams didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning, but that fire was put out with a grounder and fly ball to end the inning.

Vasin Thurman would get things going in the first for Fort Madison with a two-out line drive to left, sending Jason Thurman to third after he reached on a third strike passed ball. Reiburn Turnbull then grounded hard through shortstop scoring Jason Thurman and sending Vasin Thurman to second.

Vasin would move to third on an error at first and come around to score on another Demon error for a 2-0 Hound lead. Tate Johnson would fly out to right to end the top of the first.

Williams recorded the first two outs on six pitches, but then walked Lucas Kroll. Brandon Dickel came in to run for Kroll, and Zieglowsky singled to left to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Two back-to-back errors would send Dickel to the plate before Williams could get a strikeout and strand one for a 2-1 lead.

The Hounds would add one in the fourth when Johnson would score after doubling to left. Williams hit a shot to Turner at short that was mishandled allowing Johnson, who advanced to 3rd on a passed ball, to score for a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the 7th, Williams singled past third and senior Jace Burgher reached on an errant throw of a bunt attempt. The throw allowed Williams to move all the way to 3rd and Burgher to 2nd. Williams would score on wild pitch.

Hounds coach Ron Walker would signal for the squeeze, but Burgher was caught at home. Jason Thurman would fly out to end the top half, but Williams would button things up in the bottom half for the win.

Johnson 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Turnbull went 1-3 with a RBI. Kane Williams and Vasin Thurman had other two hits. Turnbull and Jason Thurman had stolen bases for the Hounds in the win.

Through five games, Jason Thurman is leading all Hounds at the plate with at least 10 at bats. The junior third in the Southeast Conference hitting .438 with two extra base hits and 7 RBI. Vasin Thurman his hitting at .385, all singles with 3 RBI. Landes Williams is third at .263 with 4 RBI.

Kane Williams is 1-0 on the mound with a 1.27 ERA having allowed just eight hits in 11 innings pitched. Landes Williams is tied for most wins in the state at 3-0 with a 2.56 ERA, giving up 11 hits in 13 innings pitched, but also leads the team in strikeouts with 13 on the year, second best in the loop.

The Hounds have committed just one error in the past four games after starting the year with two in the opener at Mt. Pleasant.

The Hounds currently lead the Southeast Conference at 4-1 and take on Keokuk Thursday in a double header at home.