LDN - Sports

Mustangs hand Bruins an 8-2 loss at State

[October 04, 2021] Mount Pulaski lost 8-2 on Saturday to the Royal Prairieview Ogden Mustangs, pushing the Bruins into the third place game of the IESA Class 1A State Baseball Tournament in East Peoria.

The Bruins will play the winner of Lexington (21-1) and Roanoke-
Benson (19-3) at 2 p.m. today. That game was suspended in the second inning due to rain on Saturday. The game will resume today with Lexington leading 2-0 in the second inning.

Meanwhile Mount Pulaski was able to get their semifinal game in on Saturday against the Mustangs, despite the threatening weather. The Bruins scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Eric Cooper and Franklin Wade reached base on walks to start the game. Luke Martin singled to left to load the bases. Tyler Cross hit a fly ball to right that
resulted in an error by the right fielder and Cooper came racing home with the first run of the game. Beau Tschantz batted in the second run of the game on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop. Wade scored on the play to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.

The Mustangs took over the lead in the bottom of the third inning after Coy Hayes hit a three-run homer.

The Mustangs would add five more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, highlighted by another three-run shot by Hayes. Royal Prairieview Ogden held an 8-2 lead that was more than enough to close out the game and send the Mustangs to the state championship.

Bruins coach Troy Burgard acknowledged the Mustangs after the game and summed up the 8-2 loss.

“Despite the loss, I’m proud of our efforts on Saturday,” said Burgard. “Hats off to Royal Prairieview Ogden. They are a great team, and we wish them the best of luck in the title game.”

“Aaron Kuznik did a great job on the mound,” said Burgard of his Bruin starter. “The only mistake he made was on a two-strike pitch to Coy Hayes that just caught too much of the plate. He put it over the fence for a three-run homer to take the lead 3-2.”

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“Eric Cooper has been battling some shoulder issues since our first regional game, but he was ready to take the ball when we needed him,” said Burgard of his reliever. “He was probably at about 75-80 percent, but he gave us two scoreless innings against the toughest part of their lineup to keep the game at 3-2 through the fifth inning. I think he just
wore down in the sixth inning, and they put together some great at-bats against him. Hayes busted it open with another three-run homer to put the game out of reach. I was very proud of how Eric gave us everything he had, despite not being close to 100 percent.”

Mount Pulaski batters had their own struggles against Mustangs pitching, getting just four hits on the day.

“After we scored two runs in the first, we couldn’t get much going at the plate the rest of the day,” noted Burgard. “Lance McKinney pitched a heck of a game. He was pretty wild with his control the first inning, but I was impressed with how he settled in and kept us off-balance after that.”

Mount Pulaski carries an 18-2 record into the consolation game today.

“The loss does not change anything in terms of how proud I am of this team,” said Burgard. “They have nothing to hang their heads about. They gave it everything they had, and never gave up. They are all going to be a part of some really great high school teams, and I know that this loss will only fuel them going forward. As I told them after the game, I’d rather play for a 3rd place trophy with this group than win a state
championship with any other team. I am very lucky to be given the opportunity to coach this great group of kids.”

Aaron Kuznik took the loss for Mount Pulaski. He allowed seven hits and three runs. He struck out two batters and walked one. Eric Cooper pitched two innings in relief, allowing three hits and five runs. Cooper struck out three batters and walked four.

Clay Leonard led Mount Pulaski with two hits. Beau Tschantz and Luke
Martin each had one hit.

Good luck today, Bruins!

[Teena Lowery]

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