McKinney leads Tipp past Anna in opener
It was the perfect day for the Tippecanoe baseball team to open their season on Friday, as they hosted the Anna Rockets in the season opener for both teams.
Cayden McKinney pitched a complete game, a five-hitter allowing no walks and eight strikeouts to lead the Red Devils to a 3-1 victory over the Rockets to begin the 2025 season in style.
McKinney gave up their run in the opening inning then settled down and took control.
“He hits the leadoff guy, and I think he was just a bit amped up, and he moved over on a balk and came in to score,” Tipp coach Cameron Dickens said. “From that point on, he was extremely efficient and that is what we expect from him every time out.”
“His pitch count wasn’t high and he set the tone for us. We played some pretty good defense behind him.”
Following the scoring inning, Tipp put a runner in scoring position in their first at-bat as Brady Liskey was hit by a pitch and stole second. Then McKinney singled to bring Liskey around, but the Tipp catcher was out at the plate. Tipp was held scoreless in the opening inning.
The Red Devils scored their runs at the bottom of the third, and the inning opened with Bryce Eckert singling to first base. Preston Zumwalt walked before Liskey sacrificed both runners. McKinney drove home a run to the game at 1-1. Carson Jackson singled to bring home Zumwalt with what turned out to be the game winning RBI.
Drew Husic then singled to bring Jackson home and the Red Devils led 3-1.
Tipp left runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings, while McKinney was finishing things up on the mound for Tipp.
Tipp had seven hits for the game, including two from Eckert and Husic.
“We know there are times we will have to manufacture runs. We get a couple of guys on, and we put down a beautiful bunt and find ways to score guys,” Dickens said. “We finally were able to cash that in and play Tipp baseball the rest of the way.”
Dickens is confident about what he has seen so far in the preseason and hopes it transcends into the regular season.
“We are cautiously optimistic and feel good,” Dickens said. “We were very good offensively in our scrimmages. The pitching was good in our last three scrimmages. The energy has been good.”
