WESTPHALIA - Brian Bax put a pair of will-be sophomores in the Fatima lineup Thursday night.
It went as well as it could have, as they combined for eight hits and four RBI during a doubleheader split with the Jefferson City Jays.
"We had had some younger guys that it was their first real taste of varsity ball," Bax said after a 7-4 defeat in six innings and a 17-1 victory in four innings. "I think nerves got to them a little bit in the outfield and we took took a couple lumps, but overall pretty happy."
Max Buscher played third base and batted sixth in both games, going 2-for-3 in Game 1 and 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Game 2.
Meanwhile, Blake Gentges was the leadoff batter in both games, playing shortstop in the first game and shifting to left field in the second game.
"Blake Gentges hits the ball well, runs the bases well, plays great defense in the infield and the outfield," Bax said.
Gentges singled three times and drove in three runs in Game 2, including a two-RBI fly ball to center field to put Fatima ahead 9-0 in the third inning.
The Comets scored 10 runs before the Jays got on the board with a Grant Straub sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third.
Fatima added seven runs in the fourth on six hits and two of the Jays' four errors.
"They're getting balls in play and then defensively we're not making plays behind them," Jays coach Kyle Lasley said.
Fatima led 5-0 after the first inning as the first five batters reached base. Shane Verslues crushed a grand slam to the top of the batting cage netting beyond left field after two singles and two walks. Verslues went 2-for-4 with five RBI.
Braden Juergensmeyer homered in Game 1, clearing the fence in center field for a three-run shot to pull the Comets within 6-4 in the fourth inning.
"They put a lot of hard balls in play," Lasley said. "They squared up a lot of balls tonight, so give a lot of credit to them."
It was the Jays getting the early advantage in Game 1. Brayden Whittle singled into shallow left field to score two runs in the fourth. Jacob Duke, Will Berendzen and Dawson Schuemann each had RBI singles in the inning and Ethan Dubois put Jefferson City ahead 6-0 with a sacrifice fly.
The Comets committed a pair of errors early in the inning.
"We definitely gave them four, if not five outs in three innings and you cannot do that at this level," Bax said.
Joe Hoerchler and Colby Thomas each had three hits for the Jays, while Duke and Whitter each added two.
Gentges singled twice for Fatima in Game 1.
Jeremy Parks got the win for the Jays, striking out three, walking none and allowing seven hits in six innings.
"It was more or less just seeing how far he could go, seeing how much his arm could handle," Lasley said. "We try to push these guys, throwing a little bit more pitches as the days and weeks go by."
Evan Kliethermes pitched the first four innings for Fatima and Jared Markway held the Jays two four hits and one run in two innings of relief.
"We laugh about Markway because he has two changeups, his fastball and his changeup," Bax said. "And there's enough speed difference on both of them that works really well for him."
Daniel Kleffner earned the win in Game 2, allowing a run and two hits with a strikeout and three walks in four innings.
Up next for the Jays is a doubleheader Tuesday against Helias 1. Play begins at 6 p.m. at Vivion Field.
Fatima will play Tuesday at Capital City.