The Chieftains defeated Wichita West, 8-1, and then knocked off Augusta, 8-2. THS struck first in both games. Against Wichita West, THS scored twice in the bottom of the first and then added another run in the second. The Pioneers cut into the lead, 3-1, in the fourth, but the Chieftains would answer with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning and eventually would take the 8-1 victory.

Overall, eight THS batters got at least one hit in the victory.

Zac Marcoullier went 2-for-3, while Everett Holland and Brock Gibbs both went 2-for-4. Cael Dye went 2-for-3.

Baron Dohrn, Brock Gibbs and Holland all had doubles for THS , while Marcouillier, Dye, Holland and Jacob Morenz snagged a stolen base apiece.

THS left 6 on base, compared to Wichita West’s 5.

Piercen Eccles went six innings on the mound, giving up just 3 hits and an earned run. He also struck out 3 and walked 3 in the victory. Morenz came in for the final inning and struck out 2.

Chieftains shut down Orioles

Tonganoxie was working on a shutout heading into the last inning.

Augusta spoiled the shutout with 2 runs in the bottom of the seventh, but THS still prevailed, 8-2. Tonganoxie built a 7-0 lead after three innings and never looked back.

Merek Davenport didn’t give up a hit until the Orioles were down to their final outs. He struck out a whopping 12 batters and walked another and entered the seventh with a no-hitter. He gave up two earned runs on the hit. Talon Langford took the mound in relief and gave up a hit, but struck out 2 in the seventh.

Eccles connected for a triple against Augusta, while Davenport and Dohrn had doubles. Eccles was hit by pitches twice and also had a stolen base.

Langford had 2 stolen bases, as did Brenton Provance. Morenz had a stolen base as well.

Tonganoxie left 6 on base compared to Augusta’s 4.

The Chieftains did commit three errors on the day, one against Wichita West and two against Augusta.

THS coach Mitch Loomis liked what he saw from his team in its first games of the season.

“We played very well for our first time out,” Loomis said. “Pitchers threw a ton of strikes and limited walks.

“We had a great team-first approach at the plate and came up with some big hits.”

Overall, it couldn’t have gone much better on opening weekend.

“Mostly, I was impressed with the attitude and joy the kids had being together and playing,” Loomis said. “It was a great trip to open the season.”

Tonganoxie had its home opener Tuesday against Eudora after The Mirror’s print deadline. It marked the season opener for EHS. The Cardinals went 6-10 in 2024 and lost, 3-0, to the Chieftains in the lone meeting between the Frontier League foes last spring.

THS will then compete Friday and Saturday at the Sabetha Tournament before being back home Tuesday against Spring Hill. THS will face Sabetha and Clay Center in Sabetha.

THS 8, Wichita West 1

Wichita West 000 100 0 — 1 3 0

Tonganoxie 210 302 x — 8 12 1

THS 8, Augusta 2

Tonganoxie 034 010 0 — 8 8 2

Augusta 000 000 2 — 2 2 0