Wildkats put run rule on Muncie Central twice

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The Kokomo High School varsity baseball squad stumbled out of the gate to start the 2025 season. The Wildkats were just 2-4 heading into a home-and-home against longtime conference rival Muncie Central on April 22-23.

It turns out that the Bearcats were just the remedy Kokomo needed to get back on track. The Kats took the Muncie to the woodshed in both contests, winning by the run rule -- 11-1 and 15-4 -- and fortifying a win streak that has reached five straight going into a home bout against Richmond this evening, April 28 at 6 p.m., at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.

In the opening game at Muncie, Kokomo relied on a dominating pitching performance from senior Isaac Flamino, who registered a no-hitter. He fanned 13 batters of the 17 batters he faced while allowing no earned runs and only walking one.

Flamino received run support before he even stepped onto the mound. The Wildkats posted a pair of runs in the first, followed by another five runs in the second, giving the hurler all the cushion he needed to really challenge Muncie Central. A four-run fifth inning gave the Kats the runs they needed to call an end to the contest early.

Offensively, sophomore Ben Carey stepped into the hero's shoes, going 2-2 with five RBIs thanks to Muncie's command and control issues. The Bearcats gave up 10 walks to their rivals, keeping the bases juiced for Carey. Four errors and a pair of hit batsmen also kept the Kats' scoring carousel spinning.

Senior Logan Dockemeyer and junior Brody Bagwell each delivered an RBI, which was unique in that no Wildkats registered an extra-base hit during the game.

The following night, at home, Kokomo again laid a beating on the Bearcats, winning 15-4 in five innings. And, similar, to the previous contest, deficient pitching from Muncie Central handed the Wildkats an easy victory.

Kokomo scored 15 runs on just nine hits, capitalizing on eight walks, five hit batsmen, and an error to fortify their line score.

Flamino again showed his skills, this time at the plate. He went 2-2 with two doubles and two RBIs. Sophomore Ethan Merrell and senior J.J. Gillespie also delivered a pair of hits each. Gillespie's knocks resulted in a game-high 4 RBIs. Other hits came from Dockemeyer, Bagwell, and sophomore Miles Cunningham.

On the mound, senior Brighton Harris turned in four innings of journeyman work, allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out four and walking one. He was relieved in the final frame by sophomore Landon Gibson, who allowed one run on three hits, while striking out a pair and walking one.

See additional photos from this game, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.