Teutopolis overwhelms Salem in doubleheader

The Wooden Shoes didn’t look like a team that had been impacted in the preseason by harsh weather conditions. Teutopolis got its season rolling with a two-game sweep over the Wildcats on Saturday in Salem.

Teutopolis surrendered just one hit in the first game and had 12 of their own, outmuscling the opponent for an 11-0 win. Starter Ryan Ruholl was rock solid in first start, pitching four shutout innings and allowing the only hit of the game for Salem. Ruholl struck out two batters and walked one, earning the season-opening win.

At the plate, Teutopolis methodically built its lead, scoring runs in every inning but the second and seventh. Reed Hardiek, Alex Goldstein, Kyle Pruemer and Bobby Wenthe all knocked in a pair of runs, and Wenthe also cracked a home run in the big victory.

In game two, Teutopolis allowed its only run of the afternoon, but the offense did more than its fair share to come away with another wide margin of victory, 14-1.

Bobby Wenthe pitched four shutout innings, and struck out a staggering nine batters in his first outing for the win. Wenthe got it done again at the plate, batting in two runs off a double. Andy Borries also had two RBIs, and Chase Wendling, Probst, Justin Kenter, Timothy Probst and Michael Gillespie had an RBI apiece.

The pair of wins improved the Wooden Shoes’ record to 2-0 out of the gates, and Teutopolis plays next on Tuesday when they welcome Cumberland.

Game 1 R H E

Teutopolis 1 0 3 2 2 3 0 - 11 12 0

Salem 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 1

WP-Ruholl LP-Maxey

Teutopolis: Wendling (RBI); Hardiek (2 RBI); Nosbisch (RBI); Goldstein ( 2B, 2 RBI, SB); Pruemer (2B, 2 RBI); Wenthe (2B, 2 RBI); Ruholl (RBI)

Salem: Beavin (2B)

Game 2 R H E

Teutopolis 5 2 0 4 3 0 x - 14 10 3

Salem 0 0 0 0 1 0 x - 1 5 3

WP-Wenthe LP-Crain

Teutopolis: Wendling (2B, RBI); D. Probst (RBI); Kenter (2B, RBI); T. Probst (RBI); Smith (RBI); Borries (2B, 2 RBI); Wenthe (2B, 2 RBI); Gillespie (2B, RBI)

Salem: Crain (RBI)

Bulldogs split with Mater Dei

St. Anthony’s title defense season started out with a loss, but the Bulldogs responded with an extra-inning win to split with Breese Mater Dei.

The Bulldogs dropped the first game 6-3 in an uncharacteristically sloppy effort. They led 2-0 entering the fourth inning, but committed five errors in the frame as Mater Dei trotted six runners across the plate.

Alex Hoelscher pitched and took the loss. He went five innings, allowed four hits and struck out two, but allowed six unearned runs. Jacob Schuette and Austin Bushur each had two singles and an RBI, while Ben Hecht had three hits.

Hecht took the hill in game two and shut down Mater Dei, going six innings and striking out 10. Zach Gardewine pitched the final three innings, allowed one hit and got the win.

The Bulldogs mustered only three hits in game two, but didn’t need any in the ninth when they scored the game-winning run. Jacob Lorenz reached on an error and took second on the overthrow, and Hecht was intentionally walked. A double steal attempt resulted in Lorenz being thrown out at third. But Hecht took second on the play, stole third and the throw went into left field, allowing Hecht to score.

The split sets St. Anthony at 1-1 for the year, and they play at Olney today.

Game 1

St. Anthony 100 110 0 -- 3 9 6

Mater Dei 000 600 0 -- 6 5 2

WP - Langhorst LP - Hoelscher

St. Anthony -- Schuette (Two hits, RBI), Bushur (Two hits, RBI), Hecht (Three hits)

Game 2

St. Anthony 000 000 001 -- 1 3 1

Mater Dei 000 000 000 -- 0 4 2

WP - Z. Gardewine LP - Eversgard

St. Anthony -- Hecht (10 K, one hit, run)

Neoga sweeps Central A&M

Neoga got its season started off on the right foot on Saturday, taking both games of a doubleheader against the Raiders of Central A&M.

After both teams were held in check during the first inning of game one, Neoga’s bats came to life in the next three frames. The Indians shook off the wind and cold to put tallies of one, three and two runs on the board. The six runs would be more than enough for the win, as Neoga surrendered one in the fourth and kept the damage to two in the top of the seventh to preserve the season-opening win, 6-3.

Tyler Romack pitched five innings for Neoga, allowing just one hit. The ace also struck out 13 Raiders while walking four. Riley Walk got the save.

At the plate, Zach Monroe had two RBIs on a single and home run, and Walk hit a double and single. Senior Michael Baker also had two RBIs in the first game.

Not ready to hang up the cleats quite yet, Neoga came from behind for a win in the second game of the doubleheader. After surrendering one run in the top of the first, freshman Guy Walk kept the Raiders off the scoreboard for the rest of the afternoon. In his first start of the year, Walk gave up seven hits in a complete-game effort, striking out two and walking two batters.

With the Raiders’ offense held in check, Neoga scored two runs in the second and third to build a 4-1 advantage. The Indians tacked on one more in the bottom of the fifth for good measure, finishing the day with a 5-1 victory.

Kenton Albin and Jake Baker each had an RBI for Neoga, and both Walk and Baker hit two singles.

Neoga moved to 2-0 on the year after the pair of wins, and the Indians return to action today when they travel to North Clay.

Game 1 R H E

Central A&M 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 - 3 6 1

Neoga 0 1 3 2 0 0 x - 6 8 0

WP Romack (1-0) S: R. Walk (1) LP: Snyder

Neoga: Monroe (1B, HR, 2 RBI); R. Walk (1B, 2B); M. Baker (1B, 2B, 2 RBI); Romack (2B); Albin (2B, RBI).

Game 2 R H E

Central A&M 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 7 3

Neoga 0 2 2 0 1 0 x - 5 8 3

WP G. Walk (1-0) LP: Garner

Neoga: Monroe (1B); R. Walk (2 1B); Romack (1B); Albin (RBI); J. Baker (1B, RBI); Kingery (1B).

Newton drops close contest to Pana

Newton scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, and would hold onto that lead for much of the game. But Pana’s bats would find life late in the game. Pana scored two runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the inning.

The Eagles delivered two more runs to snatch the game back in their favor, but the Panthers had a clutch seventh inning. Pana scored two in the final frame, and kept Newton off the board to escape with an 8-7 decision.

Starter Caleb Chesnut looked solid in his opening game, allowing just two hits and striking out three in three innings.

Chesnut also had three RBIs for the Eagles, and Nick Reis hit a two-run homer to lead the offensive charge. Tyler rice batted in two runs as well.

Newton dropped to 0-1 on the season following the defeat, and will look to pick up its first win Thursday at Altamont.

R H E

Pana 1 0 0 2 3 0 2 - 8 6 2

Newton 4 1 0 0 2 0 0 - 7 7 4

WP-Zahradka LP-Chesnut

Newton: Chesnut (2 2B, 2 RBI); Shipman (2B); Schulte (2B), Reis, (2-R-HR, 2 RBI); Rice (2 RBI)

North Clay tops Olney in defensive battle

The scoring was few and far between in Saturday afternoon’s contest between the Tigers and Cardinals. In fact, only one player managed to cross home plate. Luckily for North Clay faithful, that was Hunter Clifton.

Dylan Walker knocked in the only run of the game on his double in the seventh inning to give North Clay a season-opening, 1-0 shutout against its Class 3A opponent. Adam Cox pitched a complete-game for the Cardinals, allowing just two hits on the day. Cox also struck out four batters while allowing three walks on the Tigers’ home field.

North Clay’s blanking of the Tigers moved the Cardinals to 1-0 on the season.

North Clay: Walker (2B, RBI); Britton (2B).

(No box score was submitted)

SOFTBALL

St. Elmo/Brownstown falls in pair of Saturday games

The Lady Eagles of St. Elmo/Brownstown came up short in two games at the Fairfield Tournament this weekend, starting with a 16-0 loss to the host team. The Lady Mules were held in check for the first three innings, as Fairfield led just 4-0. But St. Elmo/Brownstown allowed 12 runs in the decisive fourth inning, and Fairfield kept the Lady Eagles from crossing home plate for the game’s duration.

Danie Austin’s triple and Megan Maxey’s single were the lone two hits of the game for St. Elmo/Brownstown. The game was called after five innings for the mercy-rule.

The Eagles were more competitive in the second game, but still fell short to Wayne City by a 10-3 final margin. Wayne City scored four runs in the first inning, and two in the second to build an early 6-0 lead.

But St. Elmo/Brownstown wouldn’t be held off the scoreboard, as Megan Maxey hit an RBI single in the top of the third to put the Eagles on the board. St. Elmo/Brownstown finished with three runs in the inning, but Wayne City would bring four more across home plate for the 10-3 final. The loss dropped the Lady Eagles to 0-2 overall. St. Elmo/Brownstown is back in action today when the Lady Eagles travel to Dieterich.

Game 1 R H E

St. Elmo/Brownstown 0 0 0 0 0 x x - 0 2 5

Fairfield 0 2 2 12 x x x - 16 10 0

LP-Austin (0-1)

St. Elmo/Brownstown: Austin (3B); M. Maxey (1B).

Game 2 R H E

St. Elmo/Brownstown 0 0 3 0 0 x x - 3 3 3

Wayne City 4 2 3 1 x x x - 10 3 2

LP-Scholes (0-1)

St. Elmo/Brownstown: M. Maxey (3B, RBI); S. Maxey (1B); Scholes (1B).

friday (3/15)

McMechan no-no’s Sullivan

Jasie McMechan pitched a five-inning no hitter on Friday, helping Cumberland blast Sullivan by a 15-0 final tally. The game was called after the fifth for the mercy-rule.

McMechan struck out one in picking up her first win of the season. The Pirates were as dominant on offense as there were on the mound, scoring five runs in the second and six in the third to build a double-digit lead. Three more runs in the fifth made it 15-0, and McMechan kept Sullivan off the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning to preserve the huge victory and move Cumberland to 2-0.

R H E

Cumberland 1 5 6 0 3 x x - 15 16 2

Sullivan 0 0 0 0 0 x x - 0 0 2