|
 The Wolverines got down 4-0 early after giving up four earned runs
in the top of the third inning on three walks, two hits, and a hit
batsman. WLB finally got out of the inning with a well-executed
defensive 1st-and-3rd forced balk play. With the SC runners on 1st
and 3rd base, the runner on 1st base took off running while starting
pitcher Daulton Miller came set from the stretch. Miller stepped
off, the ball to second baseman Trey Schilling who tagged the runner
before the runner on third was able to cross the plate.
WLB answered with two runs in their half of the third inning cutting
the deficit in half 4-2. Fifth grader Michael Lucas led off the
inning with solid single to left field, the first hit of the game
for the Wolverines. Lucas moved to second on a walk to Scotty Battin
putting runners on first and second. Lucas then stole 3rd base
putting runners on the corners. A pick-off move to 3rd base got
Lucas leaning forcing a run-down. Lucas was able to work his way out
of the pickle and scored the Wolverine's first run of the ballgame.
Battin moved all the way over to 3rd base on the play. Patrick
McCraith followed with a RBI groundout to second base making the
score 4-2.
 Trey Schilling, a fifth grader, took the mound in relief of Miller
in the fourth and fifth inning and gave up one earned run in the
sixth inning on two hits. Schilling (1-0) finished with two innings
of work striking out four, walking two, and allowed two hits and one
run while earning the win. Miller finished with three innings giving
up four runs, all earned, on two hits, four walks, while striking
out three. The Wolverine defense played errorless baseball to hold
on for the victory.
WLB's big inning came in the fifth inning as a weather front was
quickly approaching. After Schilling popped out to start the inning,
Lucas reached for the second time in the game drawing a walk.
Battin also walked, and McCraith followed with an infield single
loading the bases. Lucas Konczyk drew a walk and RBI scoring Lucas
from 3rd base. Jacob Langley was hit by a pitch scoring Battin to
cut the lead to one 5-4. Two wild pitches scored McCraith and
Konczyk tying the game with the first and taking the lead 6-5 with
the second. Sam Gleason added an insurance run with a RBI single to
up the lead to 7-5. Gleason scored on a steal of home as no one was
covering the plate as the ball was live. With the imminent weather
looming, Eimer and Miller both got caught on the base paths to end
the inning.
[to top of second column] |
As the players were changing sides, lightning struck nearby causing
the players to immediately clear the field. After a 15-minute delay,
the umpires deemed the conditions unsafe to play and called the game
after the completed 5th inning giving WLB the short-game win.
Lucas went 1-for-1 with a single, walk and two runs scored. McCraith,
Gleason, Eimer, and Miller all had one hit apiece. Battin walked
twice and scored twice. McCraith, Konczyk, Langley, and Gleason all
had one RBI apiece to lead the Wolverine offense.
The win improves WLB's record to an even .500 at 4-4. The Wolverines
will play Thursday night again at Miller Field against Midwest
Central at 4:00pm. Thursday's game will also include 8th grade day,
and the coaches and parents will honor the three outstanding 8th
graders Kaden Aragon, Lucas Konczyk, and Patrick McCraith before the
contest begins.
WLB will also host Regionals next week as seedings will be completed
and released late Thursday evening. Regional games will be Tuesday,
September 13 at 4:15 pm at WLB's Miller Field. Winners will advance
to play on Saturday, September 17 at 9:30 am and 11:00 am, also at
Miller Field. The Regional Championship game will be held on Monday,
September 19 at 4:15 pm at Miller Field.
[Jeff Nelson]
 |
