Hilltoppers run past Broncos 12-2
[April 15, 2026]
Tyler Cross pitched the Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers to a 12-2
victory over the Cerro Gordo/Bement Broncos on Tuesday afternoon in
his first start on the mound during his high school career.
The senior threw three and two-thirds innings, giving up five hits
and two runs. Cross struck out six batters and walked zero. He threw
75 pitches and 48 were for strikes.
At the plate, Cross was solid from the clean-up spot with a 2-for-3
hitting performance with two runs scored and two RBIs. He walked
once.
The Hilltoppers offense cut loose for 12 hits versus the Broncos.
Luke Martin led the team at the plate by slugging three hits in four
at-bats. He had two doubles and a single. Martin drove in three runs
and scored twice.
Jaeden Jackson was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Chase Roberts, the Hilltoppers lead-off hitter and catcher, was
2-for-2 with four runs scored. He walked twice and stole three
bases.
Preston Cowan was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Cowan also
pitched in relief for an inning and one-third. He allowed one hit,
one walk and recorded two strikeouts.
Carter Clark was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
Keoni Charron was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Charron’s
hit was a double.
The Broncos scored a run in the top of the first inning when Cross
gave up a home run to left field on the third pitch of the game. The
lead-off hitter, Drew Larimore, took Cross deep on an 0-2 pitch.
Cross also struck out two batters and induced one ground ball out in
the inning.
The top of the order for the Hilltoppers picked Cross up with a
single, a walk and a run-scoring single to tie the game in the
bottom of the first inning. Jaeden Jackson’s line drive to left
field scored the Hilltoppers go-ahead run and the home team never
looked back.
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In the bottom of the second inning Mount Pulaski
would stretch the lead to 5-1. Charron led off the inning with a
double. He was able to take third on a wild pitch and score on
another wild pitch. After Roberts drew a walk, Martin drove him home
on a double. Cross brought Martin home on a single to right.
The Broncos scored their second run of the game in the fourth
inning.
Mount Pulaski plated four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Jackson’s RBI single to left drove in two runs. Cross scored on a
balk and Jackson scored on a fielder’s choice. The Hilltoppers 9-2
lead was pretty secure by this time.
Mount Pulaski was able to ten-run the Broncos in the bottom of the
fifth inning when Martin added an RBI double and Cross and Carter
Clark added RBI singles.
The Broncos used three pitchers on the afternoon with Lucas Tirpak
getting the start and the loss. The trio combined to strike out five
Hilltoppers.
Mount Pulaski improved to 6-4 on the season.
The Hilltoppers will play on the turf at Clinton today at 4:30 p.m.
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