Mount Pulaski Bruins defeat Chester East-Lincoln 7-6

[August 31, 2018] 

It was an exciting matchup Thursday afternoon at Veteran's Park in Mount Pulaski as the Chester East-Lincoln Panthers came to town to face the Bruins.

Mount Pulaski held a 5-4 lead going into the fifth inning, thanks to a four-run second inning. The Bruins would add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 6-4. Tyler Sasse's RBI single in the top of the sixth inning scored a run and let Mount Pulaski know the Panthers weren't about to give up.

The Panthers quickly retired the side in the bottom of the sixth inning and that set the stage for more excitement. In the top of the seventh inning Ashton Corley's RBI single to centerfield was a perfect line drive and it allowed Dyllan Ferguson to score the tying run. Sasse came up to bat and dropped a bloop single into right field and with runners on first and third Mount Pulaski made a pitching change.

Oran Kuhlman entered in relief for Mount Pulaski and he threw just a couple pitches in getting the pop up to end the inning. Mount Pulaski breathed a sigh of relief with the score tied 6-6.

In the bottom of the seventh inning Mount Pulaski got the first two batters on base thanks to a walk to Andrew Bailey and a single by Jackson Fricke. After recording an out, Chester East-Lincoln had to face one of the many Smiths on the team. This time it was Gavin Smith with the hard hit ball to short and the throw to first was just a bit off and allowed a speedy Bailey to come racing home with the winning run.

Mount Pulaski takes this one 7-6 over the Panthers. Kuhlman earned the win for the Bruins.

Coltan Shull was the losing pitcher for Chester East-Lincoln.

Gavin Smith comes trotting home with an insurance run for Mount Pulaski. Waiting at home is Nolan Deibert.

Landon Smith led Mount Pulaski at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance and two runs scored. Alec Martin, Evan Cooper, Andrew Bailey and Jackson Fricke each had hits for Mount Pulaski. Gavin Smith played a perfect shortstop position and scored two runs for Mount Pulaski.

Brady Crane led Chester East-Lincoln at the plate. Crane was 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Ashton Corley, Tyler Sasse, J.J. Fults and Brenden Wurth each had hits for the Panthers.

Griffin Shaw scores for CEL as Jackson Fricke waits at home plate.

Dylan Ferguson ducks in the batters box after a pitch fired by the Bruins came a little close ~ unintentionally

That's a 7-6 win in the bottom of the seventh inning the Mount Pulaski Bruins are celebrating.

Tyler Sasse is congratulated by Aden Wurth after a perfect throw to second base got the Bruins out.

Mount Pulaski's record improves to 5-3.

Chester East-Lincoln's record falls to 5-3.

In other junior high baseball news:

The 2018 Logan County boys baseball tournament will take place on Saturday and is hosted by Hartsburg-Emden at McCraw Field.

On Thursday night Hartem hosted the West Lincoln-Broadwell Wolverines in the opening round. WLB defeated the Stags 7-5.

Saturday's schedule:

9:00 a.m. WLB (#4) vs. CEL (#1)

10:30 a.m. MP (#2) vs. Carroll (#3)

12:00 p.m. Championship game

[Teena Lowery]