Harbin, Cook shut down Golden Warriors as Blue Devils earn WB6 doubleheader sweep

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Quincy High School right-hander Noah Harbin tossed a one-hit shutout Friday against Sterling in Western Big 6 Conference action. Matt Schuckman file photo

STERLING, Ill. — A pair of shutdown pitching performances kept the Quincy High School baseball team in the thick of the Western Big 6 Conference race.

Noah Harbin authored a one-hit shutout as the Blue Devils opened Friday’s WB6 doubleheader with an 11-0 victory over Sterling. Grayson Cook followed with a three-hitter as the Blue Devils completed the sweep with a 12-2 victory.

Quincy (10-8)  improved to 5-3 in the WB6 and sits just one game behind Moline in the loss column.

In the opener, Harbin struck out nine, walked one and didn’t allow a hit until a one-out single in the sixth inning. He retired 16 batters in a row after opening the game with a leadoff walk. He struck out four of the final five batters he faced.

Cook gave Harbin all the run support he needed by belting a three-run home run in the first inning. Kenny Taylor had an RBI single in the second, with Connor Schwindeler belting a run-scoring double right behind him. Quincy scored three times in the third on an error, a fielder’s choice and a wild pitch.

A sacrifice fly and a two-run error allowed the Blue Devils to end the game in the sixth.

Taylor had two of Quincy’s seven hits and scored three runs.

Quincy High School right-hander Grayson Cook threw a three-hitter to help the Blue Devils complete the Western Big 6 Conference sweep of Sterling on Friday night in Sterling, Ill. | Matt Schuckman file photo

In the nightcap, Cook struck out seven and walked one, while allowing one earned run and three hits. Back-to-back doubles leading off the fourth inning got Sterling on the board, but the Golden Warriors trailed 8-0 prior to that.

The Blue Devils scored two runs in each of the first four innings and capped the victory with a four-run fifth inning.

Harbin delivered a two-run double in the first inning, while an error and a sacrifice fly plated two runs in the second. A pair of groundouts led to two runs in the third, and Harbin had a two-run single in the fourth inning. Cook added a two-run single in the fifth inning.

Cook finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Harbin was 2 for 2 with a walk and four RBIs.

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