Top Performers of the 2021 Garden City Wind Season
A look back at the players and individual performances that defined the 2021 Garden City Wind
The 2021 Garden City Wind season featured big offensive games, complete-game pitching performances and contributions from throughout the roster. Garden City had players capable of changing games with power, multi-hit performances and strong outings on the mound. Looking back through the 2021 game records, these were some of the individual performances that stood out.
Manuel Blanco delivered one of the biggest offensive performances of the Garden City season on June 11 against Trinidad. Blanco went 4-for-5 and hit three home runs as the Wind won 17-14. He remained a major part of the lineup throughout the summer and later went 3-for-5 in an August 5 road victory over Colorado Springs.
Calvin Butler showed his power early in the season. On June 6 against Salina he went 2-for-3 and hit two home runs in a 14-7 Garden City victory. On June 24 against Salina, Butler went 3-for-3 and hit two more home runs as the Wind rolled to a 21-1 victory.
Austin Labarber produced one of Garden City's biggest run-producing games on June 19 at Trinidad. Labarber went 2-for-5, scored twice and drove in six runs as the Wind won 14-8. Later in the season, he went 3-for-4 with a home run in Garden City's 15-1 victory over Colorado Springs on July 19.
Kyle Adkins gave Garden City one of its strongest pitching performances on July 19 against Colorado Springs. Adkins threw all nine innings, struck out eight and allowed only six hits as the Wind won 15-1. He also earned a victory over Trinidad on June 27 with seven strong innings and seven strikeouts, and later won at Colorado Springs on August 5.
Ted Broxterman was a major pitching contributor during the summer. On July 9 against Salina, Broxterman worked eight innings, struck out seven and allowed three earned runs in a 6-4 Garden City victory. He was also the winning pitcher on July 26 when the Wind defeated Trinidad 9-5.
Taylor Barber delivered several important offensive games. He went 2-for-4 with a home run in Garden City's 16-11 victory over Colorado Springs on July 7. On July 23 against Salina, Barber went 3-for-5 and homered again as Garden City continued its late-season push.
Alex Nielsen supplied an important offensive performance on July 24 against Salina. Nielsen went 3-for-5 and hit a home run as Garden City scored 18 runs in the victory. He was also a regular contributor during the Wind's strong opening month.
Corey Lewis led the offense on July 9 against Salina, going 3-for-4 in Garden City's 6-4 victory. In a close game where every run mattered, Lewis gave the Wind repeated opportunities at the plate while Broxterman handled the pitching side.
AJ Clayton - Winning on the Mound and Contributing at the Plate
AJ Clayton contributed in multiple roles. On June 19 at Trinidad, Clayton earned the win and also scored twice as Garden City won 14-8. On June 24 against Salina, he threw seven innings with seven strikeouts in a 21-1 victory. He later earned another important win on July 23 against Salina.
Noah Parsons was part of Garden City's pitching staff throughout the 2021 season and produced important innings in both starting and relief roles. He picked up the save in the June 27 victory over Trinidad and was later featured in Garden City's late-season win over Colorado Springs.
A Season of Big Individual Performances
The 2021 Wind received impact performances from all parts of the roster. Manuel Blanco and Calvin Butler supplied major power games, Austin Labarber drove in runs, Kyle Adkins and Ted Broxterman delivered important innings, and players such as Taylor Barber, Alex Nielsen, Corey Lewis, AJ Clayton and Noah Parsons helped Garden City throughout the summer.