For the second straight game, the Shoes received a dominating pitching performance. In the regional championship Saturday, Garrett Gaddis threw a complete game two-hitter.
For the sectional opener, it was Borries that controlled the game. He gave up a lead-off walk in the first and then retired 9 of the next 10 hitters.
In the fourth Cash Bailey was hit by a pitch and Ben Simmons singled to put two runners on base for Columbia with no outs. Borries struck out Lucas Riebeling and Brody Landgraf then hit a one-hopper to THS third baseman Evan Waldhoff. He quickly stepped on third and fired a strike to first baseman Mick Niebrugge for the inning-ending double play.
Borries, again, retired 9 of the next 10 batters. But when he walked Riebeling on four pitches to start the seventh, Fleener brought in sophomore Gavin Addis in relief. Borries allowed three hits, while walking two and striking out five, while throwing 85 pitches.
“Austin followed the game plan very well,” Fleener explained. “He pounded the strike zone, stayed on the corner and mixed in his curve ball. He didn’t let them get comfortable. Austin did a great job.”
With the runner on first, it was Landgraf, again, at the plate. He worked the count full, but on a 3-2 pitch, he hit a ground ball right back to the pitcher. Addis spun, delivered a perfect throw to Devin Kreke, who then stepped on second and threw to first for another double play.
Addis then got Sully Bonaldi to fly out to centerfield, earning the save, securing the win and setting up a sectional showdown with the St. Anthony Bulldogs.
“Those were two big double plays for us,” Fleener said. “But that’s what you need this time of year. You need your defense to step up and make those plays.”
Riebeling, the Eagles starting pitcher, also threw well. But his inability to find the strike zone in the opening inning produced an early run for the Shoes. With two outs, Mick Niebrugge walked, Borries lined a single up the middle and Mitch Koester walked to load the bases. Waldhoff then also drew a walk to force in the run.
Riebeling only allowed three hits, but one of them left the ballpark. With one out in the third, Mick Niebrugge launched the first pitch he saw over the fence in left to increase the Shoes lead to 2-0.
It stayed that way until the sixth. Koester drew a one-out walk, Waldhoff was hit by a pitch and Devin Kreke reached on an infield single to load the bases. Jake Bushur then hit a grounder to shortstop. Columbia went for a double play, but Bushur beat the relay to first, allowing Koester to score the third run of the game.
The Shoes, now 23-11, will advance to face St. Anthony for the sectional championship. Game time Saturday is set for 11 a.m.
The two teams met in April, with the Bulldogs posting an 8-2 victory.
“I’ve got a ton of respect for Coach (Tony) Kreke and his program,” Fleener said. “They’re tough and they’re well-coached. We’re going to have our work cut out for us. It should be a good game.”
The winner will advance to the Carbondale Super Sectional.
