Baseball

By Steve Raymond

The Sports Report

It doesn’t matter whether it’s Little League or Major League, the ability to collect timely hits with runners in scoring position is a key statistic in virtually every baseball game.

Such was the case Friday afternoon in Teutopolis.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs had numerous scoring opportunities, but went just 2-for-12 with runners on second and/or third base.

The host Shoes, however, were a little better, collecting three hits out of eight tries. Plus, they took advantage of a costly error and a wild pitch to add a couple runs, en route to a 6-2 victory.

The top of the first inning proved to be a forecast of things to come for the Bulldogs. With one out, Kennan Walsh ripped a ground-rule double and Eli Moore followed a double off the center-field fence. Since Walsh had to make sure Moore’s hit was not caught, he was only able to advance to third base.

St. Anthony’s next two batters were retired, ending the threat and setting the stage for the rest of the contest.

“This score could very well have been flip-flopped,” said St. Anthony coach Tony Kreke. “But a few timely hits didn’t come our way. Our kids had plenty of fight, but give T-Town credit. They were able to get a few of those hits and came away with the win.”

In the bottom of that first inning, again with two outs, Evan Wermert grounded a base hit up the middle and Matt Deters lined the first pitch he saw into left for a single. Evan Addis followed with a line drive into right field that brought home the first run of the contest and gave the Shoes a lead they never relinquished.

“I was pleased with how we responded in that first inning,” THS coach Justin Fleener said. “They (St. Anthony) hit two balls off the fence, but we held them. Then we bounced back with three straight hits to get off to a good start.”

THS made it 2-0 in the third without getting a hit. Kayden Althoff struck out, but reached first base when the third strike got away from the catcher. Matt Deters and Addis were both hit by pitches and Althoff eventually scored on a wild pitch.

St. Anthony had baserunners in scoring position in the second and third innings, but couldn’t deliver that timely hit. The Bulldogs finally broke through in the fifth.

Logan Antrim got a one-out single, went to second on a wild pitch and then stole third base. With two outs, Eli Moore got his second double of the game to drive in Antrim and cut the lead to 2-1.

But the Shoes responded again in the bottom of the frame. Sam Bushur walked, advanced to second on an error and scored when Wermert delivered a ground-rule double that bounced over the fence in right-centerfield. Wermert went to third on a wild pitch and scored on the second error of the inning to increase the T-Town lead to 4-1.

“Wermert had some big at-bats and really came through for us today,” Fleener noted. “He’s an example of what happens when you put in extra time. He’s been working after practice and has gotten better. That’s exactly what you have to do.”

St. Anthony got its final run in the sixth. With one out, Will Hoene was hit by a pitch, stole second base and scored on a two-out single by Eli Levitt.

But T-Town came back and added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Derek Deters reached on a fielder’s choice, Bushur got a base hit and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Althoff then delivered a key two-out, two-run single that pushed the Shoes lead to 6-2.

“We had some good scoring opportunities,” Kreke admitted. “We had people on base with our big boppers coming up. I’ll take that every game. We just weren’t able to get the big hits.”

In addition to that key single in the sixth, Althoff also turned in a strong pitching performance, improving to 4-0. He went six innings, allowing six hits and two runs, while walking three and striking out five. Derek Konkel came in to get the final three outs in the seventh.

“Kayden really battled on the mound,” Fleener noted. “That’s his calling card. He goes deep into counts, but is generally able to get out of jams. He’s a real competitor and got us through six innings. He did a good job.”

Colton Fearday took the loss for St. Anthony. The junior left-hander went five innings. He allowed four hits and four runs (two earned), while walking one and striking out four. Seth Hotze pitched the sixth and gave up two runs on three hits.

“Colton always wants the ball,” Kreke said. “I’m very happy with the progress he’s made this fall. He’s a real gamer and I thought he really pitched well today.”

St. Anthony dipped to 8-7 on the fall season. The Bulldogs will have two home games this upcoming week – Tuesday against South Central and Thursday against Teutopolis.

“I thought we made some winning plays today,” Kreke said. “Sometimes you play well and win; and other times you play well and don’t win. This is the type of game we can build from.”

The Shoes improved to 12-6. They will conclude their fall season with three games next week. They will play at Dieterich on Monday, at St. Anthony on Thursday and then close the season with a home game Friday with Neoga.

Justin Hardiek banged out three hits, including a home run, and Sam Bushur had a key two-run double, leading the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes to a 7-6 win over Altamont in the opener.

The Indians, behind four hits and five RBI from Tyler Robbins, gained a split in the doubleheader Thursday with a 9-5 victory in the nightcap.

In the first game, Hardiek had an RBI single in the first and solo homer in the fifth. Bushur capped the three-run fifth and drove in what proved to be the winning runs with his two-run double, putting the Shoes up 7-4 at the time.

Altamont got single tallies in the sixth and seventh to close the gap, but Dylan Pruemer got a double play ball to end the game and earn the save for the Shoes. Evan Addis pitched the first six innings to get the win.

The game was tied 4-4 when the Shoes came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. Hardiek led off with a blast over the left-field fence to put THS on top to stay. With two outs, an error and a walk gave T-Town a pair of runners and Bushur brought them both in with his two-bagger.

Altamont had taken a 4-2 lead in the third, but the Shoes came back to tie in the bottom of the frame. Matt Deters and Hardiek started things with base hits. With two outs, Pruemer drove in a run with a single and Derek Deters followed with an RBI double.

The Indians had their hitting shoes in the second game, banging 13 hits. In addition to the four hits by Robbins, Hayden Siebert, Mason Robinson, Lucas Shepard and Gage Wendling each had a pair.

Robbins, who only needed a home run to hit for the cycle, had an RBI single in the first, a two-run double in the second, a run-scoring triple in the sixth and got his fifth RBI with a bases loaded walk in the seventh.

The Shoes scored four times in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. They combined two hits, an error, a hit batter and awalk. Brayden Gaddis drove in the first run with a base hit, Joey Ruholl added an RBI on a ground out and Cade Buehnerkemper capped the inning with a two-run double. A wild pitch allowed T-Town to score the tying run in the third.

But the Indians took the lead with a tally in the sixth and then tacked on three more in the seventh to earn the split.

Josh Burrell took the loss for the Shoes.

Teutopolis is now 11-6. The Shoes have just two games left on their fall schedule. They will host St. Anthony on Friday and then travel to Dieterich on Monday. Game time both days is 4:30 p.m.

Kayden Althoff turned in a strong pitching performance and also delivered the biggest hit of the game, helping Teutopolis post a 7-4 win Saturday over South Central and gain a split in the North Clay Showcase.

In their opening game, the Shoes dropped a 4-3 decision to the host Cardinals.

Against South Central, the game was tied entering the sixth inning. With one out, Evan Addis walked, Derek Deters got a base hit and Sam Bushur walked to load the bases. Althoff then ripped a double, driving in two and putting THS on top to stay. Evan Wermert added a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-2 lead.

In the seventh, a single by Logan Roepke and a pair of walks loaded the bases again and Sam Bushur delivered a two-run single expanding the Shoes lead to five runs.

Althoff pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs. He also walked three and struck out nine. The Cougars rallied in the bottom of the seventh. They combined three hits and two walks to score two runs and they had the bases loaded with two outs. But Derek Konkel came in to record a strikeout and earn the save.

Roepke had an RBI single and Justin Hardiek a sacrifice fly to put the Shoes on top 2-0 in the opening inning. South Central got a solo home run by Chase Dodson in the bottom of the first and added another tally in the second to tie the game.

In the first game, a two-out single by Holden Clifton in the top of the seventh drove in what proved to be the winning run in North Clay’s 4-3 win over T-Town.

A bases-loaded walk by Derek Deters gave the Shoes a 1-0 lead in the second. North Clay scored one run in the fourth and added two more in the fifth to go ahead 3-1. But Teutopolis tallied twice in the bottom of the fifth to tie it up.

With one out, Sam Bushur was hit by a pitch and Wermert followed with an RBI double. Dylan Pruemer then brought in the tying run with a ground ball.

Evan Addis was the THS starter and went 4.1 innings, allowing three hits and three runs, while walking two and striking out four. Kendall Schmidt went 1.2 innings and Bushur pitched the seventh and absorbed the loss.

The Shoes are now 10-4 on the season. They will play three games this week -- Wednesday at Windsor/Stew-Stras; a doubleheader at home against Altamont on Thursday; and St. Anthony at home Friday.

Riley Walden delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday afternoon, capping a three-run rally and giving Windsor/Stew-Stras a walk-off 4-3 victory at home over Teutopolis.

The Shoes held a 3-1 lead entering the Hatchets’ final at-bat. But Gavan Wernsing was hit by a pitch and Sam Vonderheide singled to get the winning rally started. Brady Beals ripped a two-run double to tie the game and Walden then came through with the game winner.

After WSS grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Wooden Shoes went on top with a two-run third. Derek Konkel singled and Jonathan Kemme walked to start the inning. Luke Koester drove in the first run with a base hit and Brayden Gaddis then had an RBI ground out to put THS on top, 2-1.

T-Town added a run in the top of the seventh. Caleb Siemer had a run-scoring single after Koester and Addis had base hits to start the inning.

Derek Deters relieved starter Cade Buehnerkemper in the sixth and took the loss. Vonderheide pitched the final five innings to get the win for the Hatchets.

The Shoes, who dipped to 10-5, will play at home Thursday against Altamont.

This time, the son earned bragging rights.

Logan Fleener ripped a walk-off RBI double Saturday afternoon, handing his dad, Justin (coach), and the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes a 2-1 setback.

The two teams were tied 1-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. After issuing a lead-off walk, T-Town starter Sam Bushur was relieved by Derek Deters, who proceeded to strike out the first two batters he faced, But after a stolen base, Fleener connected with a 2-1 pitch and lined it over the head of THS left-fielder Evan Addis, bringing in the winning run.

The visiting Shoes took a 1-0 lead in the second. With two outs, Dylan Pruemer reached on an error and made it to second base. Luke Koester then delivered a base hit and Pruemer raced home with the run.

The Cardinals combined an error, stolen base and two ground outs to tie the game in the fourth.

Bushur was the tough-luck loser. The junior right-hander pitched six strong innings, allowing just two hits, while walking one and striking out two.

The Shoes dipped to 8-3. They will play three games next week – at home Monday against South Central; Thursday at North Clay; and Saturday in the North Clay Showcase.