(New Buffalo, MI) - The New Buffalo High School baseball team, perhaps, couldn’t have had a better start to the season after winning both games of a March 28th doubleheader at Lawrence, 22-3 and 21-2.  New Buffalo was helped on offense by eight fielding errors from Lawrence during the first game.

 

Head Coach Adam Lijewski noted that batters drawing walks also helped his team with scoring in both games.

 

“Lawrence is a young team that struggles at pitching. We are a team turning the corner to be a good all-round team,” he said.

 

Many of the players for New Buffalo were freshmen two years ago when the team failed to win games. Last season, the Bison were above the .500 mark in wins until a series of late-season losses. The goal for the team this year is to make a run for the District 4 title.

 

Despite opposing pitchers struggling with their control, Lijewski said his batters just didn’t stand at the plate looking for walks. They often swung at pitches that weren’t always strikes, but they were able to reach the balls with their bats.

 

The Bison recorded 22 hits in both games.

 

“It’s hard to hit some of the inconsistent pitchers. You get stuck in the walk mode. These guys were looking to hit. Big difference from a few years ago,” Lijewski said.

 

Highlights on offense included a stand-up triple by Ethan Lijewski and a stand-up double from Nick Wolfe. Starting pitchers senior Sam Wendell-Suppa and freshman Drew Bowen went the distance, allowing just five hits combined in both games.

 

The Bison play again at home on April 9th against River Valley, which defeated Buchanan on March 26th in their season opener, 19-4.

 

Lijewski said he’s pushing his players, who seem to be responding positively because they enjoy the game and want to keep improving.

 

“The real test is our next game. I’ll be saying that all year. We will never be satisfied,” he said.