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Bobcat Bomber: Woodward bashes three
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One was a senior. The other a freshman. And both led their varsity baseball teams to victory Saturday in a doubleheader split between Union and Elgin High Schools. The senior? The Huskies’ Travis Ludwig. The freshman? The Bobcats’ Austin Woodward. They were spectacular. They were jaw-dropping. And they were dominating in different ways.
 HUSKY HURLER: Travis Ludwig struck out 10 batters and gave up just three hits Saturday in the Huskies’ 7-0 game-one victory. Observer photos/BRUCE MASON He threw a seven-inning gem in game one, leaving Bobcats batters muttering near the dugout. Here was the Elgin senior, sporting that intimidating eye black and grizzly beard, staring into catcher Jake Kennedy, delivering to the plate, then watching Union batter after Union batter walk back to the dugout — miffed. Ten strikeouts. Three hits. And an overpowering 90-mph-plus fastball rivaling that infield defense on the impressive meter. Infield defense? Yeah, his infield defense. Look, it’s Ludwig, fielding a bunt, alertly spinning and firing to second base, nailing a Union runner. Out. Look, it’s Ludwig, again, backpedaling off the mound — the side of the mound — yet sucking in a comebacker like a vacuum reeling in dirt, then calmly throwing to first, nailing another Union runner. Out. Look again, it’s Ludwig, again, snagging a lineout just inches before it struck the Elgin turf, then wheeling, firing and gunning a runner at first. Double play. Three amazing putouts. Ten stifling strikeouts. One dominating performance. “The kid is just a phenomenal athlete,” Elgin coach Greg Luse said. “You can call on him in any situation, and he’ll come in and do it. “He knows the game, inside and out.” And he knows that if he’s this good hurling, and this good defensively, too, then it’s only a matter of time before his fellow bats back him up. They did in the third, helped by three Union errors and RBI singles from Dillon Moore and Clint Predmore. They did again in the fourth, helped by two-out hits from G.D. Clark (RBI-double) and Dalton Moore (2-RBI single). Elgin 7, Union 0. Thank you, Travis. “Ugly,” said Union coach Greg Poor regarding his Bobcats’ performance consisting of too many errors and strikeouts. “Ugly is the best word to describe it.” It was pretty in game two. Thanks to Woodward. We begin with his lesser performance on the mound — believe it or not. He struck out nine. He walked just two. He escaped jams with runners on base. And this was his lesser performance? Calm, composed, escaping tough spots? Yes, because his bat was better. So much better, it should be bronzed and hung in the Union rafters. Here was Woodward in the second inning, waiting for an incoming pitch. Ping. There it goes, flying in the Elgin sky ... going ... going ... Gone. Home run. His fourth of the year. Four for a freshman? Four for a freshman. But wait. He wasn’t done. We move to the fifth inning. Here was another Elgin pitcher, stepping off the rubber, cocking his arm, looking toward the plate, delivering, and placing that hardball right into Woodward’s wheelhouse. Crack. There it goes again, sailing toward that previous spot where home run No. 1 landed ... going ... going ... Gone. Home run. Two in one game? Two in one game. “Hey Austin,” Union first base coach Beau Sisneros said, looking into the dugout at this Bobcat Bomber. “Could you do that with people on base? You’ve hit five home runs, four of them have been solos.” Good sarcasm, but Woodward didn’t listen, anyway. Here came the seventh. And here came Woodward, strolling into the box. Here came another pitch, and there went another deep shot to left ... going ... going ... Gone. Home run. Three in one game?!? Three in one game. Woodward rounded first, slapping a low-five with Sisneros, then met his Bobcat Bunch at the plate, celebrating this incredible day. It’s the first time Poor had a freshman accomplish this feat. It’s also the first time Elgin gave up a home run this season, yet this Bobcat Bomber hit three. He was special. He was impressive. And so was Ludwig. And that’s why, if these co-defending league champions meet again in OSAA districts, and it’s Ludwig vs. Woodward on the mound, and Ludwig vs. Woodward at the plate, well, it will be one heckuva battle. Stay tuned. “We’ll see them again,” Luse said. “And it will be Ludwig versus Woodward, I can guarantee you that.”
Union 000 000 0 — 0 3 3 Elgin 004 300 x — 7 11 0 WP — Ludwig. LP — Langford. 2B — E, Clark. Game 2 Union 010 210 2 — 6 9 1 Elgin 000 200 0 — 2 7 2 WP — Woodward. LP — Da.Moore 2B — U, Langford; E, Clark, Kennedy, Baker. HR — U, Woodward (3). |
