Cadott picks up a win as season winds down

Senior Ethan West looks for direction from the third base coach while at bat for Cadott, as the Hornets hosted Thorp in a non-conference match-up May 6. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

It was a hectic week for the Cadott baseball program, as the season races toward its finish.

May 3 vs. McDonell conference (L 6-4)

First up, the Hornets took on McDonell in an away matchup, that ended being a very close encounter. Cadott was held scoreless throughout the first and second innings, while the Macks put up two runs in the first and one in the second.

The Hornets got on the board in the third inning, with two runs, but McDonell struck again in their side of the inning, with another run. Cadott tied it up in the fourth, with two runs and neither team scored in the fifth inning.

It would be the Macks who would claim vcictory, scoring two runs in the sixth inning, to put them up, 6-4, while holding the Hornets scoreless in the top of the inning.

“We hit the ball hard and put runs on the board,” said coach Spencer Kempf. “A few more balls drop and the outcome would have been different.”

Freshman Warren Bowe went 5.1 innings on the mound, allowing 6 hits and 6 runs, while striking out 8. Sophomore Connor Roth went .2 innings, giving up 1 hit and striking out a batter.

Offensively, Bowe, seniors Ryan Sonnentag and Ethan West, sophomores Axel Tegels and Ashton Bremness, and freshman Parker Davis, all came up with a hit for the Hornets.

May 5 vs. Osseo-Fairchild conference (L 10-3)

Two days later, the Hornets hit the road to take on Osseo-Fairchild, but scoring just wouldn’t happen for visitors. The Thunder scored two runs in the first inning, five in the second and clapped in nine in the third, to take the 16-0 shutout win.

“We couldn’t get our offense going on Thursday, and it forced our pitchers and defense to spend a lot of time on defense,” said Kempf. “Walks and free runs really hurt us, as many hits against us were not well struck.”

West pitched two innings, for 5 hits, 8 runs and 5 walks, while Tegels went for .2 innings, allowing 5 hits and 8 runs, walking 4. Bremness was on the mound for 1.1 innings, giving up no hits and striking out a batter.

May 6 vs. Thorp conference (L 10-8)

The next night, Cadott was at home against Thorp, where fans were treated to a close game. Thorp struck first, scoring two runs in the opening inning, but the Hornets got on the board in the second, with a run. The Cardinals wouldn’t quit and added another three runs in the third, one in the fourth and two in the fifth.

Cadott answered back with four runs in the fifth inning, coming from the deficit to throw a scare into Thorp. Thorp added two more runs in the final innings and while Cadott put up three runs in the seventh, it wasn’t enough and Thorp went home with a 10-8 win.

“We got down early, but I was really happy with how we fought back and made it a close game,” said Kempf. “A few plays go our way early and we win this game.”

Roth pitched four innings for the Hornets, giving up only 5 hits and 6 runs, while striking out 4. Bremness then threw three innings in relief.

Bremness, Tegels and Bowe all had 2 hits on the day.

May 9 vs. Spencer non-conference (W 12-7)

After a weekend to draw a breath, the Hornets hosted nonconference opponent Spencer, with scoring slow on both sides in the early innings. Cadott notched a run in the first inning, but Spencer drove in three in the third.

Neither team got on the board in the fourth, but Spencer came up with a run in the fifth inning, while the Hornets got five runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Spencer added one more run in the seventh, but couldn’t overtake Cadott. The Hornets picked up the win, 8-5.

“This was the best complete game we have played all year,” said Kempf. “We had 12 hits and took advantage of our time on base. Ethan West and Warren Bowe gave us a shot to win on the mound, and our defense made some great plays.”

West went five innings for Cadott, giving up 7 hits and 4 runs, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Bowe took over for two innings, allowing only 1 run and striking out 5.

Junior Tristan Drier led in batting for the Hornets, with 3 hits, and Sonnentag, Roth, Bowe and Tegels all had 2 hits each. Freshman Jackson Barone chipped in with a hit for the team.

“I look forward to seeing us continue playing good baseball,” said Kempf.