Lead-off batter Beau Adams lined the second pitch of the game into centerfield to get things started and Eli Levitt followed with a walk. After Brock Fearday flied out, Connor Roepke grounded a single to right, bringing Adams in with the first tally of the game.

But things were just getting started. Aiden Lauritzen lined a pitch into the right-centerfield gap for a two-run double. Max Koenig then singled and Will Hoene walked to load the bases. Ryan Schmidt capped the first inning uprising with a base hit, driving in two more runs and staking the Bulldogs to the quick 5-0 lead.

“When Beau Adams goes, we go,” Kreke noted. “When he gets on base, good things generally happen. It was nice to jump out on top like that. Hitting is contagious.”

The Hearts came right back in the bottom of the inning. Kaden Koberlein and Quest Hall walked and Jack Harper was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. Myles Maxedon then walked to force in one run and Camden Raddatz delivered an RBI single.

But with the bases still loaded, Colton Webb hit a hard ground ball, but right near the second base bag. Koenig, the SAHS shortstop, gloved the ball, stepped on second and fired to first to complete the double play and end the threat.

“Falling behind by five quickly is tough,” EHS coach Curran McNeely said. “But I was proud how the kids came right back with two runs. And we had chances to get more. We battled all night. I felt if we could have closed the gap to 10-5 or 10-6, it would have been more manageable, but we just couldn’t get that big hit.”

The Bulldogs took control of the game with a five-run third – and it all started after two outs.

After a 9-pitch at-bat, Schmidt walked and stole second. Adams then grounded a pitch into the hole between third and short. He beat the throw to first and Schmidt never stopped running, sliding across the plate with the run. Levitt then grounded an RBI double just inside the third base bag.

Before the inning was over, SAHS had collected six straight hits. Brock Fearday had a run-scoring single, Roepke added an RBI double and Koenig capped the outburst with another RBI base hit, extending the lead to 10-2.

After a shaky first inning, Levitt, St. Anthony’s starting pitcher, really settled in. He allowed only one hit and four baserunners until he reached his pitch limit with two outs in the sixth inning. The senior righthander finished with four walks and seven strikeouts in his 105-pitch performance. Sam Link recorded the final four outs.

“That first inning was tough for Eli,” Kreke said. “Since we scored five runs in the first, he had to sit about 20 minutes before throwing a pitch. He was probably a little tight. But from there on out, he was just special. He pitched like Eli Levitt can pitch.”

The Hearts used five pitchers in the game. Raddatz was the starter, but left in the first inning. He was followed by Andrew Donaldson, Max Seachrist, Webb and Hull. For Raddatz, it was his first start of the season.

“Cam hasn’t pitched much,” McNeely noted. “It was nothing serious, but he’s had some arm troubles. Over the last three weeks, he looked good in his bullpen workouts. I gave him an inning Wednesday night and he looked good, so I had him start tonight. I was hoping we’d get a couple innings out of him.”

It was also the first time Hull has pitched in about a month.

“I thought Quest looked pretty good,” McNeely added. “It was nice to see both him and Cam pitch and have some velocity. We’re going to need both of those guys the next two weeks.”

The Hearts are now 15-13 on the season, having won seven of their last nine games. They will host Highland on Tuesday.

“We were up and down at the beginning of the year,” McNeely said. “We had some guys hurt, but we’ve bounced back. We’ve been playing good, disciplined baseball. I’m definitely pleased with where we’re at right now.”

The Bulldogs, who improved to 22-4, will now begin play in the postseason. They are the top seed in the Brownstown Regional. SAHS will face either Ramsey or Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City (CHBC) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“This City Series is a great tune-up as we head to the regional,” Kreke said. “The boys are excited, but we know what lies ahead next week. I’m pleased with where we’re at, but we need to keep playing good baseball. We want to be playing for long time yet.”