Falcons wing by Knights, Evergreens’ bats fall heavy

Heavy hitting plagued the Cornell-Lake Holcombe baseball program, as they took on two East Lakeland Conference teams over the week.

May 11 vs. Flambeau conference (L 13-3)

At home on Lake Holcombe’s field, the Knights took an early lead in the first inning, when freshman Trent Nitek singled on a 1-2 count, scoring a run, going up 2-1 over Flambeau. The Falcons struck back in the second, scoring four runs, while the third and fourth innings remained scoreless.

Flambeau took the lead for good in the fifth, with another six runs, then added another two runs in the sixth, holding the Knights to just one run in that time. The game ended up in the visitors’ hands, 13-3.

Senior Tate Sauerwein was on the mound for the Knights, lasting an inning and two-thirds, allowing 2 hits and 5 runs, while striking out 3. Senior Kaden Crank, sophomore Cead Ewer and junior Dylan Bowen, each contributed in relief.

On the offensive side, the Knights tallied nine hits in the game. Bowen, Nitek, Crank and junior Colton Minnick each had two hits to lead the game. The Knights have 14 players on the team and ended the game with one eligible substitute.

“Next man up was the theme for this game,” said coach Brandon Baldry. “That’s life, it’s called adversity. Once we figure out how to adapt to adversity, this team will do great things on the field and in life. Until then, we will stride to get better everyday.”

May 13 vs. Northwood-Solon Springs conference (L 24-8)

Two days later, the Knights took for a match-up against Northwood/Solon Springs, but the away game slipped out of the Knights’ grasp early on. The Knights only collected six hits, while the Evergreen had 17 in the high-scoring affair.

The Evergreens racked up nine runs in the first inning to the Knights’ one, but Cornell-Lake Holcombe battled back to add seven runs in the second. The Evergreens knocked in an additional four runs that inning, then nine in the third and another two runs in the fourth.

Bowen started on the mound, lasting two innings. Sophomore Max Sauerwein came in for one-third of an inning and Ewer closed the Knights out for one and two-thirds innings.

“Tate Sauerwein went for the long ball in the second inning, for his first hit of the year, that just happened to be a well-timed grand slam,” said Baldry.

Despite good offense, the Evergreens collected too many hits, which led to runs and a 24-8 loss for the Knights.

Baldry says Minnick played “a heck of a game” behind the plate, and that Bowen pitched very well against a hardhitting team. Minnick also led the Knights with two hits in three at bats.

“The score may not reflect our true efforts for this game,” said Baldry. “This was one of the more well rounded efforts we have put together yet.”

The Knights’ record now sits at 1-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference.