But that quiet kid sitting in the No. 8 hole in the Lynx lineup can hit.

After taking a three-year sabbatical from the diamond, Lyons joined the WCHS program this summer and that decision paid huge dividends for the Lynx Tuesday evening. Lyons went 3 for 4 at the plate with three RBIs and provided a critical two-run single in the fifth inning that helped open the floodgate for a 12-2, 6-inning rout of Algona Garrigan at Lynx Field.

“This helps me build a lot of confidence because in that first game (last week) I really struggled,” Lyons said. “So to come back and play like this just builds my confidence.”

In reality, it was a pair of newcomers that paved the way to the Lynx victory. Lyons did the job at the plate and Chase Rattenborg, who also dusted off the baseball cleats for the first time in three years, went the distance on the mound for his first career win. Rattenborg allowed seven hits and walked just two to go along with seven strikeouts.

Devon Stoakes watches the ball fly off his bat during the first inning against Algona Garrigan on Tuesday. The ball landed for a single and Stoakes went 2 for 4 with an RBI in the contest. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“I missed this so much, it’s crazy,” Rattenborg, who also went 2 for 4 with an RBI at the plate, said. “I don’t know why I took that break and it probably shouldn’t have happened, but I love this.”

Lyons agreed.

“It’s so much fun hanging out with my friends and playing baseball again,” he said. “I really missed it.”

WCHS head coach Adison Kehoe praised his two newcomers afterwards, but his overall mood was less than euphoric. In reality, the contest was anything but the breeze the final score indicated. Garrigan led 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning before the Lynx (4-1) righted the ship and put nine runs on the scoreboard. They added two more in the sixth to end the contest an inning early.

Kehoe wasn’t pleased with his team’s demeanor or attitude and he let the players know it afterwards.

WCHS right fielder Sean Carver makes a catch on the run as he nears foul territory during Tuesday’s 12-2, 6-inning victory over Algona Garrigan. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“We need to put a belt on a little bit attitude wise and I understand it’s a crazy season and it’s short, but I’m not going to hold their hands and say it’s OK, because it’s not OK,” Kehoe said.

WCHS struggled with its timing at the plate against off-speed pitcher Joe Meis, who limited the Lynx to just three hits through four innings. Meis gave Garrigan (0-4) a 2-1 lead with an RBI single in the top of the fifth, but in the bottom half he finally succumbed to the Lynx bats.

“We just showed up and the intensity was brought (in the fifth inning),” Lyons said. “We need to bring it like that the entire time and not wait until the fourth or fifth inning.”

WCHS sent 15 batters to the plate and roped six hits in its nine-run fifth frame. Ty McKinney ignited it with a lead-off base hit down the third base line. An RBI single by Tyler Olson pushed WCHS in front to stay and four batters later Lyons sent a base hit into left that plated two more runs.

McKinney drove in a run when he was plunked with a pitch and he eventually scored for a second time in the inning when Olson sent a screaming liner into center for a two-RBI single.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Lyons, Connor Hanson and Rattenborg collected consecutive singles in the sixth. A Devon Stoakes single to center pushed another run across to give WCHS an 11-2 lead, and Olson ended it a few pitches later with a towering flyout to center that allowed Hanson to tag up from third and trot home.

Stoakes, Olson and Hanson joined Rattenborg with two hits, as WCHS piled up 13 in all. Olson drove in a team-high four runs.

The fifth-inning offensive outburst was exactly what Rattenborg wanted to see. He worked his way out of several jams on the bump and at one point retired seven consecutive batters.

“If he can give me an outing like that every time, then he’s done his job and then some,” Kehoe said of Rattenborg. “It was a blessing to get him and Trey to come out this year. With Trey, it doesn’t matter where you put him, he’s going to give you 110 percent effort every single time. He rolls his sleeves up in practice and quietly does what he needs to do.”

Marcus Plathe led Garrigan with a pair of doubles. Meis took the loss after allowing five runs and issuing six walks in 41⁄3 innings. Joe Merron came on in relief in the fifth and was touched for eight hits and seven runs.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WCHS was at Humboldt last night for a designated non-conference game against the Wildcats. Kehoe’s club will return home this evening to take on Ballard in another non-conference clash. The first pitch is tentatively set for 7:30 p.m.

Webster City 12, Garrigan 2 (6 inn)

Tuesday at Webster City

Garrigan 000 110 — 2 7 3

Web City 010 092 — 12 13 1

Joe Meis, Joe Merron (4) and Garrett Heying. Chase Rattenborg and Devon Stoakes. WP — Rattenborg. LP — Meis. Multiple hits — GAR: Marcus Plathe; WC: Trey Lyons (3), Rattenborg, Stoakes, Tyler Olson, Connor Hanson. 2B — GAR: Plathe (2). RBI — BG: Meis, Plathe; WC: Olson (4), Lyons (3), Rattenborg, Stoakes, Ty McKinney.