High-scoring games derail Hornets’ hopes of victories

Senior Ryan Sonnentag batted for Cadott at home April 28, going up against non-conference opponent Owen-Withee. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Cadott’s baseball program faced some tough competition over the week, while offensive was in short supply.

April 26 vs. Stanley-Boyd conference (L 8-7)

Starting off the week at home, Cadott faced off against conference opponent Stanley-Boyd, putting up two runs to begin the first inning, but the Orioles bounded back to bring in five runs in the third. Cadott didn’t let that go unanswered and struck back with five runs of their own in the fourth inning.

“Our offense looked good, but we just made too many mistakes defensively and Stanley took advantage of those mistakes, with some timely hits,” said coach Spencer Kempf.

The Orioles added two more in the fifth and their final run in the sixth inning, while the Hornets went scoreless through the rest of the game. The close contest went to Stanley-Boyd, 8-7.

“Tough loss for us,” said Kempf. “Conner Roth had a great game, he had a clutch three-RBI hit, and pitched well enough in the sixth and seventh inning, to give us a chance to come back and win.”

On the mound, freshman Warren Bowe went five innings, allowing 7 hits, 7 runs and 9 strikeouts, and walking 4. The sophomore then went two innings, giving up 3 hits, 1 run and only walking one batter.

Offensively, Roth, Bowe, senior Ethan West, junior Tristan Drier, sophomore Ashton Bremness, and freshmen Jackson Barone and Parker Davis, all had a hit. Senior Ryan Sonnentag and Barone each walked twice, while Bremness and West walked once each.

April 28 vs. Owen-Withee non-conference (L 15-5)

Next up, Owen-Withee came to call, in a cross conference clash jumping out to a 10-run lead over the Hornets in just the first inning. The Blackhawks added another two runs in the second inning, but Cadott managed to hold them scoreless in the third, while putting up three runs on the board.

“We were short-handed last night, and had a lot of players seeing their first varsity playing time,” said Kempf. “Conner Roth continues to show his importance to our team, with two more RBI and he really settled the pitching down for the night.”

Despite holding the Blackhawks to only three more runs in the game and adding another two themselves, Cadott saw the bout go the way of Owen-Withee, 15-5.

Drier pitched .1 innings, giving up 3 hits for 9 runs, while Roth pitched just over four innings, ending with 8 hits and 6 runs on the mound, as well as 7 strikeouts. West also spent time on the mound, recording a strikeout.

Sophomore Brandon Sikora finished the day with 2 hits, as did Roth, while West, Bowe, Davis and freshman Cameron Allard all had a hit.

“This was a tough loss,” said Kempf. “We need to move past this game and re-focus for the remainder of the season/ conference schedule.”

April 29 vs. Bloomer conference (L 16-0)

With no rest, Cadott headed to Bloomer, the next day, for a conference match-up, but Bloomer’s bats were too hot to handle. It was the Blackhawks in the game, as they put up four runs in the first inning, seven in the second, 3 in the third and two in the fourth, and final, inning, taking the game, 16-0.

“Bloomer hit the ball really well and was able to string together hits, something that we just weren’t able to do,” said Kempf.

West and sophomore Henry Danielson each went two innings on the mound, with West giving up 9 hits and 13 runs, while Danielson allowed 6 hits and 3 runs. West walked 5, striking out one.

Coming up with the only hit of the day for the Hornets, was Sonnentag, while Drier got on base with a walk.

“We need to move on from the tough week, and prepare for three more this week,” said Kempf.