Benton High School baseball fights off Atchison for team’s 10th victory of season

(ST. JOSEPH, MO) - The #6 Benton High School baseball team defeated Atchison 8-3 on Tuesday to improve to 10-5 on the year.

It was a pitchers duel to start between Atchison senior Yogi Purdy and the Benton pitching duo of freshman Carson Coy and sophomore Kendrick Elkins. Purdy struck out 10 batters in 4.1 innings while giving up 5 hits and 2 runs. Coy and Elkins combined to throw 6 strikeouts each, Coy's 6 K's came in just 2 innings pitched.

The Cardinals got on the board in the top of the fourth when a fielding error caused an inside-the-park home run from sophomore Xander Tiller. An RBI from junior Zaidyn Woodward in the 5th inning pushed Benton's lead to 2-0.

But in the bottom of the 5th, the Phoenix tied it 2-2 on an RBI hit from Purdy and a forceout from Brody Barnes.

Benton then responded with 5 runs in the top of the 6th, including a 3 RBI triple from senior Cy Polley, sealing the win.

Polley finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, Woodward finished 2-for-5 with 2 RBI and Coy finished 1-for-2 with 2 RBI.

Benton next hosts Savannah on Wednesday, April 14th at 4:30 pm. Atchison drops to 4-2 on the season and next hosts Washington on Friday, April 17th at 4 pm.