After a tough loss, Van-Far answered back immediately with plenty of offense.

Van-Far vs MMA Photo Gallery

The Indians began their season with a 5-4 loss to Calvary Lutheran in Jefferson City on Monday after allowing five runs in the final two innings, including two unearned runs, but posted a 16-run first inning on Tuesday at home in Farber to defeat Missouri Military Academy 20-0 in three innings. Van-Far had 24 stolen bases, 13 hits and five players with multiple RBI.

"I'm just proud coming out and rebounding off of last night, still showing up and playing," head coach Cameron Huff said. "It's tough whenever you take a loss like we did last night and come back out and play the very next day."

Huff, who earned his first career head coaching win, said he liked Van-Far's aggressiveness the most. This applied to the plate with eight of nine players recording a hit but was more true on the basepaths.

Whenever an Indian reached base, a stolen base or two followed as Missouri Military Academy's three inexperienced pitchers struggled. Van-Far took home plate four times -- three on wild pitches and once on a steal of home.

"We don't have any pitching yet," Missouri Military Academy head coach Thomas Roberts said. "We're trying to develop pitchers. I would just like to compliment (Van-Far) for playing well and the coaching staff for coaching well."

Tyson Douglas was 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI but also had four stolen bases, Gibson Condie also had four stolen bases along with six strikeouts in three innings pitched, and Reece Culwell, Carson Huff, Gage Gibson and Malik Douglas each had three stolen bases.  Huff led the team with three RBI after going 2-for-2, and Culwell, Garrett Hopke and Ronnie Stanich each had two RBI.

Cameron Huff said he understands Roberts and MMA are undergoing a big rebuild after losing eight starters and all its pitching from last season. In his first season with the Indians, Huff is trying to build Van-Far into a contender fast after six combined wins for the last four years.

"We definitely came out and played the better baseball today," Huff said. "It's a completely new team (over there). Van-Far's been on that end of the scoreboard sometimes."

Huff said he does wish the team's first victory this season happened against Calvary Lutheran as Van-Far led 4-0 in the sixth inning. Culwell, who struck out 13 and allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings, was taken out in the sixth inning in favor of Condie. Huff said Condie pitched to good contact, but the defense just didn't make the plays that particular night.

"We put Gibson Condie in, and he did what he was supposed to do as I told him to throw strikes and get groundballs," Huff said. "We didn't execute defensively."

Huff said it was nice to see Condie shake off that outing so quickly by not allowing a hit and only one walk to MMA. It has been good to see Condie pitch well, in general, since Huff said he didn't expect him to ascend to the team's No. 3 option.

"We're going to lean on him heavily," Huff said. "He's definitely proven himself. Coming into the year, I did not expect him to pitch honestly. I thought he was going to be an 'if-needed.'"

Van-Far hosts Tuscumbia (0-1) at 5 p.m. Friday while MMA has its home opener at 5 p.m. Thursday against Mark Twain (0-1).

Look for a photo gallery at the link near the beginning of the story and look for a story about junior Reece Culwell and his journey to 100 career strikeouts in the Wednesday, March 27, 2024, edition of the Mexico Ledger.