The Manual baseball team traveled to Waggener High School on Thursday afternoon and mercy-ruled the Wildcats 18-2.

The impressive start to the 2017 campaign held much anticipation, as Tuesday’s game against Seneca and Wednesday’s game against Jeffersontown were both cancelled due to expected weather conditions.

“I think it definitely helped us because we were very anxious to play and we were really hyped for the first game of the season and that got cancelled and the same thing for the second. So we were just ready to play and ready to start the season,” said Jackson Medley (#8, 11).

Medley drove in a run as well as scored himself in a first inning that saw the Crimsons get out with a fast start, leading 3-0 when Waggener came to the plate. Jalen Riley (#3, 10) also scored in the first inning after he singled to start the game, stole second base, advanced to third base on a sacrifice grounder, and then sprinted to home plate on a wild pitch.

Lukas Motley (#4, 11) got the start on the mound for the Crimsons. In three innings of work he struck out three batters and only allowed one run. Austin Bedell (#21, 11) entered the game in the fourth inning and Jake Ringstaff (#30, 10) finished out the shortened game in the fifth inning.

Manual maintained its offensive firepower in each inning, scoring three runs in the first, two in the second, six in the third, two in the fourth, and five in the fifth. The Crimsons played solid defense, with only a few errors and only giving up one home run.

Looking ahead in the schedule, Manual plays a double header this weekend against Bowling Green high school and Allen County Scottsville. Next Tuesday they will host the defending state champion St. Xavier Tigers at Derby City Field at 6:30.

“We seem very confident right now with the way we’re going, off to a good start” Riley said.

Confidence will be key as the Crimsons take on two of the state powerhouses in the next five days.

“Definitely think it [18-2 win over Waggener] will keep our heads on straight. While we’re playing the bigger teams we’ll realize not every team is a cakewalk and we can’t just come out and goof off” said Medley.

After finishing as regional runner-ups last season, Manual will look to improve and advance to the KHSAA state tournament for the first time since 1962.