Jaguar starting pitcher Elliott Flohrs delivered the 1-2 pitch with authority, forcing Meixell to ground out towards second base and eliminating any chance of a big fourth inning.

This was the story of Wednesday’s contest between the two geographical rivals. The Jaguars used timely hitting and an outstanding start from Flohrs to manufacture an 8-1 win over MCW at Fox Lake Area Sports Complex. GHEC/T/ML improves to 3-7 on the year and snaps a previous two-game losing streak, while the Mavericks fall to 2-6.

“We threw strikes and played great defense,” GHEC/T/ML head coach Jordan Petschke said. “It was great at-bats, getting guys on and delivering with timely hits. We had a couple of nice two-out hits, which are huge for us.”

Flohrs came up just shy of a complete game on the rubber. Earning the win, the right-hander tossed six and one-third innings of one-run baseball. He allowed four hits while fanning five Maverick batters.

Photo by Jake Olson: Martin County West's Preston Cepress walks back to first base after his single in the third inning of Wednesday afternoon's contest against GHEC/T/ML.

Griffin Studer relieved Flohrs for the final two outs of the game and picked up a strikeout. The two held MCW’s offense to four hits and four walks on the day.

“Elliott Flohrs forced contact and collected a few strikeouts,” Petschke said. “That’s been our thing this year, allowing too many free bases. But he was awesome today.”

Meixell got the nod on the mound today for the Mavericks and began the game with a strong rhythm on his delivery. Outside of GHEC/T/ML’s Bowan Sill scampering home on a past ball in the first, both starting pitchers were in command of their arsenal heading into the third inning.

But this is where things shifted. The steady hand of Meixell started to shake as he started off the frame, walking the opening three batters to load the bases with nobody out. Sill collected his second base knock of the afternoon on an up-the-middle grounder that plated Talin Thate and Studer.

The Jaguars tacked on the final two runs of the frame after Jonah Moeller’s shallow fly ball proved to be out of reach for Maverick shortstop Preston Cepress. Sill and Flohrs touched home plate to give GHEC/T/ML a 6-0 cushion. Six of MCW’s 13 walks came in this frame.

“When we threw the ball over the plate, we were much more competitive. Unfortunately, we were not as successful with that today,” Maverick head coach Jon Traetow said. “13 walks as a pitching staff is never a recipe for success. Part of that falls on me for having to play 11 games in 14 days.”

Getting on base was never an issue for MCW on Wednesday afternoon. The Mavericks had seven individuals reach first base during the first four innings.

Flohrs stranded runners on third base with strikeouts of Kaleb Kennedy and Michael McCorkell in the first and second innings. Every chance Traetow’s offense seemed to find ended up just short. The Jaguar pitcher also worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, allowing Talon Ebeling to score via passed ball before getting out unscathed.

“Our recipe for success this year has been being aggressive. Whether that’s working counts, laying down a bunt, or stealing bases, that’s our recipe for success,” Traetow said. “The first two innings were set up exactly how we needed them to. … Unfortunately, it equated to just one run.”

GHEC/T/ML added two more runs in the fifth inning. Sill picked up his third and final hit of the contest with an RBI single, before a Flohrs hot-shot at third baseman Kade Fennern was slightly bobbled to bring in the final score of the contest. Sill finished the afternoon with three RBIs.

The two teams will square off again this Friday for their second battle of the 2026 spring. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Truman High School.