The Mason High School baseball team is 2-0 on the season.
The Punchers beat Dublin 12-0 in their only game of the Brady Tournament February 22 because of the inclement weather after stomping Brady 15-3 February 17.
In two games, Mason has plated 27 runs, which has impressed head coach Jay Immel.
'We hit the ball really well,' he said. 'Everyone is seeing the ball well and putting good shots on the ball. I'm excited about that.'
Ray Row's home run in his first at-bat of the season was the highlight of the hitting. It happened in the first inning. He followed that with doubles.
'He's hitting the ball well,' the coach said. 'Kalen Langehennig is hitting the ball well, Matthew King is hitting the ball well. We have seven or eight guys who are hitting the ball well.'
The other positive is the pitching, Immel said.
'We did a good job throwing strikes against Brady and Dublin,' he said.
King threw three innings against Brady, while Langehennig took the mound for the final two innings.
'Both pitched well,' Immel said.
Trevor Loeffler was the winning pitcher against Dublin in a contest that ended after three innings because the Punchers scored 12 runs.
'Trevor did a good job throwing strikes in 34 degree weather,' the coach said. 'He's going to have to be one of our guys. We're still working on the pitching rotation. Matthew and Kalen are two of our main ones. The guys did a good job of throwing strikes and playing good defense.'
Going into that contest, Immel told his players to get ready for Old Man Winter and was pleased they took didn't sit for long in between half innings.
'It's going to be cold,' he recalled saying. 'You have to stay loose.'
The Punchers producing at the plate helps the defense in numerous ways, the coach said.
'Obviously it puts less pressure on pitchers and the defense,' he said. 'It lets them pitch with less pressure on them. When you have run support, there's not quite that pressure. It helps with momentum, too.'
As for getting his 100th career victory, Immel laughed as he recalled the wait. He is in his sixth year in Mason and eighth as a head coach including the Covid-19 pandemic season.
'I've been stuck on 99 since last season,' he said. 'It was good to get that one. It's hard to get, it's tough. I'm really excited to get it and with this group. This is a fun group.'
