It was a tall order for the Washington-Liberty Generals to defeat the host and perennial baseball power Madison Warhawks in the opening game of the squad’s 2025 high-school season.

So it was no real surprise when W-L came up short in the Thursday (March 18) non-district contest, 2-0, and got just one hit out of the experience.

On the plus side, the Washington-Liberty pitchers allowed just two hits and kept the game close.

Madison’s second-inning run scored as the result of a walk, then later a disputed balk, and the Warhawks scored in the sixth on an infield hit.

Hard-throwing senior right-hander Jon Keane started and pitched five innings for the Generals. He struck out four and walked five in the loss, throwing 71 pitches. Sean Guffey allowed an earned run in one inning of relief with a strikeout and two walks.

Madison had two runners on with one out in the third. Keane retired two straight hitters to end the threat, with first baseman Nicholas Socknat making a nice pick on throw on a ground-ball out to end the inning.

Washington-Liberty coach Kevin Healy told ARLnow good pitching and depth on the mound could be a strength for the Generals this season.

The Generals faced Madison ace Cael Yates in the game, who pitched six shutout innings. Washington-Liberty had multiple baserunners as a result of three Madison errors, but could not score. The top of the second inning ended for W-L on a double play with two runners on.

Alex Goodell had the Generals’ one hit.

The close loss continued a trend from last season, when Washington-Liberty lost seven games by one run and two more by two. All of those games were low-scoring.

NOTES: The first six outs of the game were ground-ball outs, all to the left side of the infield, five to third base … other starters for Washington-Liberty were Guffey at third base, Alex Frymoyer at shortstop, George Thompson at second base, Alex Bartl in left field, Sam Jackman in center, Noah Hitzig in right and catcher Henry Gerber.