A/C - baseball

A/C baseball

Continued from page 9

A two-out blast in the first inning from Schreiber got the co-op on the board, connecting on a 1-0 pitch for his first home run of the season. Grayson Totzke added another run on an error later in the first after drawing a walk and being moved over to third on a single by Michlig.

Starting pitcher Arturo Lopez found himself in some trouble in the first after a pair of singles and a hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs. However, the sophomore was able to work himself out of the jam, striking out the next two batters and then inducing a ground ball out to escape the inning unscathed.

The combination of Schreiber, Totzke and Michlig came through for the co-op once again in the third. After Schreiber and Totzke hit singles and successfully stole second and third, Michlig delivered a third single to drive in two more runs. While the Buccaneers were able to notch a score in the bottom half of the frame, a single from Malzahn and a stolen base from Javier Rivera setup Lopez with a runner in scoring position, which he was able to drive in with a two-out RBI double.

Lopez went two and a third innings for Abby/Colby on the mound, striking out four batters and giving up one run on three hits and a walk.

Schreiber reached safely in all four of his plate appearances, going 3-for-3 from the plate, coming just a triple short of the cycle and earning an intentional walk in the fourth. Michlig likewise reached safely four times on Tuesday, hitting three singles, collecting two RBIs and stealing two bases. Malzahn also had a pair of RBIs on two hits in three at-bats, Lopez had a pair of RBIs and a double, and Aguilera, Folz, Hanson and Totzke all had hits.

Osceola, 18-6

A back and forth opening to Saturday’s home game against Osceola turned into a blowout as the visiting Chieftains used nine runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull away from the hosting co-op and deliver them an 18-6 defeat.

While some early patience at the plate and clutch hitting allowed Abby/Colby to make-up for some miscues in the field, the lineup failed to push any runs across in the final three frames while the defense continued to struggle. Twelve total errors meant just six of the 18 runs allowed by Abby/Colby pitching were earned.

Payton Schreiber started on the mound for Abby/Colby. The senior pitched well over his two and a third innings of work, but defensively the co-op could not back up their pitcher. Despite not surrendering a hit or a walk, four runs were still able to cross the plate over the course of the first three innings.

While the Chieftains could not get much going against Schreiber, they constantly put pressure on the Abby/Colby defense, either by putting the ball in play or on the basepaths. Osceola had 10 stolen bases and forced several mistakes by the co-op with their aggressive baserunning, which certainly factored into their ability to have twice as many runs as hits.

After the visitors snuck away two runs in the top of the first, Abby/Colby was able to knot things up in the bottom half of the frame. Arturo Lopez got the co-op on the board with an RBI single to bring home Christian Fuentes and an error by the Chieftains allowed Lopez to score later. While there was an opportunity for the co-op to come away with more runs in the inning, having bases loaded with just one out, Osceola’s Cole Lund was able to work himself out of trouble, stranding a trio of Abby/Colby baserunners.

Three consecutive walks for Fernando Perez, Fuentes and Lopez to start the second gave the co-op another prime opportunity. Schreiber took advantage with a clutch double down the right field line, helping Abby/Colby take the lead by driving in a pair of runs. With runners on second and third and no outs, the co-op looked primed to extend that advantage but once again, the Chieftains managed to limit the damage to just two runs.

Osceola knotted things up in the top of the third, pushing both across on a pair of dropped third strikes that went to the backstop. They then took the lead after a pair of walks, an error, and four stolen bases turned into three more runs for the Chieftains in the fourth. Despite having no hits after four innings, Osceola still held a 7-4 advantage.

Four walks and a hit-by-pitch helped the co-op bring themselves back within a run, but two runs for the visitors erased that work. A four-run sixth for Osceola opened things up and a five-run seventh all but sealed the co-op’s fate. Six of the visitors’ nine hits came in the final two frames and, when combined with four walks and four errors surrendered by Abby/Colby, the Chieftains were able to quickly distance themselves. Osceola relief pitcher Tred Hilgus entered the game in the fifth and held the co-op scoreless in the final three innings.

Schreiber finished with four strikeouts and four unearned runs in two and a third innings of work. Lopez pitched three and a third, giving up nine runs on five hits and four walks. Four of those runs were earned and he struck out two batters. Cutter Hamus finished out the game on the mound for the co-op and surrendered five runs, two of which were earned, on four hits and one walk.

Schreiber also led Abby/Colby at the plate. The senior went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, collecting two RBIs and a run scored. Lopez had one hit in two atbats and walked twice, driving in one run and scoring another. Fuentes was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and Irvin Aguilera and Jaxton Malzahn both had hits in the loss. Aguilera had the team’s only stolen base.

RIGHT ON TARGET - Arturo Lopez delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of the co-op’s game against Osceola on Saturday. The Abby/Colby players were decked out in special red, white and blue uniforms to honor first responders and those in the military.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

ADMIRING HIS HANDIWORK - Payton Schreiber breaks out of the box after smacking a two RBI double to right field that would give Abby/Colby the lead over the Chieftains.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD