The Cambridge City Lincoln baseball team opened its season on Saturday, April 4, by hosting Oldenburg Academy. The Twister lineup was handcuffed all day by the Eagle pitchers in a 4-1 victory for the Eagles.
Senior right-hander Ben Bates pitched the first five innings, striking out 14 Twisters and only surrendering three hits, holding the Twisters scoreless. Senior left-hander Dustin Lunsford pitched the final two innings striking out four more Twisters, only allowing two hits and one run.
The Eagles got all the runs they needed in the first two innings. Braylon Buckles drew a walk to open the first inning, Braxton Dick joined him on base with a bunt single and Lunsford drew a walk to load the bases. Gaige Collins drove Buckles across the plate with an RBI single and an RBI ground out from Bret Hunt plated Dick to give the Eagles an early 2-0 lead.
The Eagles added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Buckles drew a two-out walk; Dick singled and Lunsford hit a two RBI triple to the center field fence to extend the Eagle lead to 4-0.
Bates was the winning pitcher for Lincoln, and Lunsford recorded a save. Dick collected two hits to lead the Eagle offense.
Lincoln head coach Jeff Gwin said he thought his team played well. “We gave the ball to Ben Bates today and he was just a bulldog,” Gwin said. “He is always going to give us a great effort. Overall, I liked what I saw today. Everyone contributed.”
Oldenburg (0-1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Lincoln (1-0) 2 2 0 0 0 0 – 4
Lincoln hits: Collins, Dick (2), Lunsford, Carter Pass
A version of this article appeared in the April 8 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.