Ripon Christian Knights head coach John DeVisser has been coaching long enough to know that winning isn’t always pretty.

“I told my guys after this one that the only two numbers that matter is those two on the scoreboard over there,” he said. “We struck out 26 times this week and somehow go 2-0. We are inventing new ways to win every day.”

The two numbers DeVisser was referring to was the 6-3 score after the Knights came from behind to beat Hilmar on Friday afternoon to improve to 2-0 in Trans Valley League action.

Ripon Christian (7-1 overall) struck out 10 times, committed three errors, got caught stealing on the basepaths three times and had just one hit in the game.

Those were the numbers that did not matter as the young, gritty Knights battled back from a late three-run deficit to stay at the top of the league standings.

“We were young last year, we are young this year, but we are finally starting to play good, smart baseball,” DeVisser said. “You’re going to have days like today and run into good arms, but what matters is taking good at-bats and doing the little things that help you win games.

Hilmar (0-2, 5-4) starting pitcher Andrew Dyrland was fantastic throughout, going five innings while allowing just one hit and

“Man, their guy was good today,” DeVisser said. “We haven’t seen someone in the 80s this year, and he did a good job mixing up his pitches to keep us off balance. Not a ton of comfortable at-bats were had against him.”

Ripon Christian had an answer on the mound for Dyrland in the form of sophomore pitcher Trenton Cloward. He kept the Knights in the game by going five innings, allowing just three hits and two earned runs while striking out five.

Cloward yielded to junior relief pitcher Tyler Wadlow in the sixth. Wadlow would work around some trouble in the inning, allowing just one unearned run to keep the game within reach for Ripon Christian at 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth.

“Trent did a great job for us today,” Wadlow said. “When coach gives me the ball in that spot, I am just trying to put up zeroes and know that we were going to get going offensively eventually.”

Wadlow was right.

With Dyrland out of the game for Hilmar, the Knights started the bottom of the sixth inning with seven straight hitters getting on. Back-to-back hit by pitches to Maxx Anderson and Talen Tameling were followed up by walks to Noah De Bruyn, Stadtler Postma, Wadlow, and Cloward. In the blink of an eye, Ripon Christian would take a 4-3 lead without having to put the ball in play.

“Honestly, in those spots, it’s just next man up,” Wadlow said. “You see a guy struggling and you know you have to make him come in to you and luckily for us we were able to take some big pitches and take the lead.”

Ripon Christian would add two more runs, the first coming on an error on a ball hit to second base by Jack Strickland before Anderson came up for the second time in the inning and reached on an error by the center fielder on a hard-hit ball that plated Wadlow to make it 6-3 Knights.

The depth of DeVisser’s staff was on display in the seventh, as he called on Strickland to close the game. The sophomore did so emphatically by striking out the side and complete the two-game sweep for the Knights.

A good start to league play was crucial Ripon Christian as they start a series against TVL defending champions Hughson next week.

“We had two get away from us against them last year,” DeVisser said. “I just want to play competitive baseball play the way we are capable of and make things difficult on a really good well-coached team.”

First pitch for Game 1 is slated for 4 p.m. at Hughson High School on Wednesday. Game 2 will be back at Ripon Christian on Friday also at 4 p.m.