The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

It was a rough start to the season for the Fleming Wildcat baseball team who returned the field following a three-year hiatus. The Wildcats have been unable to field team since 2018 when they went 6-9 under the coaching of Anthony Serrato and Derek Feather.

Anthony Serrato returned this year to assist Head Coach Jaxon King and Assistant Coach Tanner Serrato - both alumni who once wore Wildcat baseball jerseys.

An anticipated season opening double header scheduled for Monday, March 21 was postponed due to inclement weather. The games were made up on a cold and windy Wednesday, March 23 when Fleming hosted the Merino Rams.

The opening inning left both teams scoreless, but the Rams took over in the second. Fleming's defense battle conditions and gave up 17 unanswered runs to the visiting team. A single run in the third inning gave Merino the 18-0 victory.

Junior Nolan Japp recorded the only hit for the home team. He went one for two plate appearances and also recorded the only stole base.

Four pitchers saw time on the mound for the Wildcats. They threw 112 pitches and junior Braylen Feather took the loss.

Game two of the double header went to five innings before Merino took the second win of the day; this time 11-0.

Seniors Nate Betley and Joel Muller both batted .500 after going one for two at the plate.

Three Wildcat pitchers threw 113 pitches in the game. Betley took the loss after throwing 37 of those pitches.

Friday afternoon brought the Otis Bulldogs to Fleming. Otis handed Fleming a third straight shut out finishing in four innings at 15-0.

(Herald photo by Spring Atchison)

SENIOR NATE Betley hurls one from the mound on Wednesday against Merino.

Feather and Muller each earned hits for the day. Muller went two for two at the plate and took two stolen bases. Feather went one for two and stole one base.

Betley stood on the mound for the majority of the game. He faced 14 batters striking out four and giving up four hits.

Junior Kody Donnelson also saw some mound time. He faced 11 batters, struck out two and gave up two hits.

The Wildcats are set to host Weldon Valley for a double header on Saturday, April 2 beginning at 11 a.m. The Warriors opened their season on Friday with a double header against Prairie. Those scores were not reported on MaxPreps.

On Tuesday, April 5, Fleming travels to Akron at 4 p.m. to face off with the now 3-2 Rams. Akron split wins in a double headers with Haxtun and Wray and fell to Yuma earlier this week. They're scheduled to take on Stratton and Holyoke prior to meeting up with Fleming.