A/C baseball notches 10-5 victory over Loggers

By Nathaniel Underwood

Grayson Totzke went 2-for-3 and collected two RBIs, Payton Schreiber struck out 11 batters and the Abby/Colby lineup had a big fourth inning to push them past the visiting Phillips Loggers last Tuesday, 10-5.

While the Loggers were able to rack up more hits than the co-op, collecting 10 to Abby/Colby's six, the home team was able to take advantage of the nine walks issued by the Phillips' pitching staff. Abby/Colby needed just two hits to blow open the game in the fourth inning, racking up five runs and allowing them to pull away from their Marawood-North foes.

Holding a 5-4 advantage heading into the bottom half of the frame, the Abby/Colby offense put together their most productive inning of the contest when they needed it most. Christian Fuentes and Schreiber were able to draw walks to start off the co-op and Totzke delivered an RBI single. Another walk drawn by Ayden Michlig loaded the bases and Schreiber scored on a pitch that got away from the Loggers' catcher. An infield single from Carson Folz drove in two more runs as Abby/Colby remained aggressive on the base paths and Irvin Aguilera was able to notch the final run of the inning by scoring on a groundout.

Now with a solid lead to work with, Schreiber and reliever Arturo Lopez were able to hold Phillips to just one run over the final three innings.

The outcome of the contest seemed less assured early on, when the visitors were able to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The co-op was able to respond with three runs of their own in the bottom half, Schreiber driving in the home team's first run of the game on a single to left field. Abby/Colby used a single from Michlig and a pair of walks to score two more runs, notching the go-ahead run on a balk by the Loggers.

Phillips was able to make up for the mistake in the second, knotting the game at 3-3, but the co-op was able to convert a leadoff walk and a stolen base by Fuentes into a run after Totzke came through with a hit to retake the lead. An intentional walk of Schreiber also came back to haunt the Loggers, the senior eventually coming around to score to double Abby/Colby's advantage.

Both Totzke and Folz finished with two RBIs to lead the team in the category. Schreiber finished 1-for-2 from the plate with two walks, one RBI and three runs scored. Fuentes reached safely in all four of his plate appearances though he did not have a hit, collecting two walks and being hit by a pitch twice. He also scored three runs and stole two bases. Owen Hanson had the only extra base hit for the co-op, a double in the third.

Schreiber went five and two-thirds innings on the mound, striking out 11 batters in the process. He surrendered five earned runs on eight hits and three walks. Lopez entered in the fifth and pitched one and a third innings, allowing two hits and walk while striking out two.

The win was Abby/Colby's third of the season, bringing their overall record to 311.

SOLID CONTACT - Carson Folz slices the ball down the third base line during the co-op’s win over Phillips. The second baseman went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

CRUISING HOME - Ayden Michlig makes it home easily, expanding the Abby/ Colby lead in the fourth inning. He also batted in a run.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD