GILMAN BASEBALL - Neillsville shuts down Pirates again

GILMAN BASEBALL

This time, the Gilman Pirates got a run, but for the second time in a week, Neillsville-Granton’s pitching held them to two hits Monday and went home with a 6-1 win to stay in the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference title chase.

The Pirates put up one significant threat on an extremely windy afternoon at the Gilman ballpark. They got a run out of it to make it a 3-1 game in the fourth inning, but the Warriors scored twice in the sixth and once more in the seventh to put it away.

Adam Hoeser was the main pitcher that shut down Gilman in this one, going five innings and allowing both hits. He struck out seven and walked four. Kaiden Strey struck out four and walked one in two scoreless relief innings.

With the win, Neillsville-Granton improved to 9-1 in conference play and pulled within a half-game of 9-0 Loyal atop the league standings. Those two teams were scheduled to play Tuesday in Loyal, but that game was postponed to this coming Tuesday due to inclement weather. They are playing today, Thursday, in Neillsville. Loyal also has a game at Spencer Friday.

As for the Pirates, they fell to 5-5 in the conference and 9-9 overall. Their game at Owen-Withee/Thorp Tuesday was also postponed a week. They are hosting the Redhawks today, Thursday, as they try to wrap up conference play.

Gilman fell behind quickly 1-0 Monday, but the top of the first inning could’ve been much worse for the Pirates. Two singles and an error on a double steal quickly scored that run. Another walk had two runners on with two outs, but Gilman’s freshman starter Max Pockat ended the threat with his third strikeout of the inning.

Neillsville-Granton stranded two runners in scoring position in the second and went down in order in the third. Max Pockat singled in the bottom half, but wound up getting doubled off first on a line drive out by Tate Krizan. Gilman was an out away from getting out of the fourth, but an outfield error led to two runs for the visitors.

Hoeser walked Lucas Halida to start the bottom fourth and Gilman’s chance to get back in it. Halida stole second and Beau Pockat bunted for a hit, putting runners at the corners with no outs. Pockat stole second, so the Warriors took a chance, intentionally walking Connor Nichols to load the bases.

The strategy worked. Dawson Grunseth hit a comebacker to Hoeser, who got the force on Halida at home plate. Pockat was able to score on a wild pitch, but two strikeouts killed the rally.

Boden Opelt and Andrew Hoeser singled in runs in the sixth for Neillsville-Granton. The last run scored on a wild pitch.

Max Pockat went four innings and allowed five hits and three hits, one of which was earned. He struck out six and walked four. Grunseth got four outs and allowed two runs with two strikeouts. Beau Pockat allowed a run and a walk in an inning while striking out two. Makii Austin got the last two batters.

Hornets 11, Pirates 1

On Friday, a 1-1 tie through three and a half innings deteriorated when host Alma Center scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth and buried Gilman 11-1 in five innings in non-conference play.

The Hornets’ ace, Jace Paul, held Gilman to five hits while striking out seven and walking only one. Six Gilman errors undermined its pitchers as Alma Center Lincoln only had five hits.

Both teams scored in the first inning. Beau Pockat doubled, stole third and scored on a two-out hit by Grunseth in the top half. Two hit batters led to an unearned run for the Hornets on a two-out error.

Max Pockat got out of a one-out basesloaded jam in the second with two infield pop-ups. Gilman left two on in scoring position in the third.

Two singles sandwiching an error got Lincoln’s big sixth-inning rally started. Jay Stetzer drew a bases-loaded walk to break the tie. An error brought in a run and Paul lashed a two-run single. Suddenly it was 51. Two more runs scored on a groundout and a dropped third strike that would’ve ended the inning.

The Hornets again loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and the Pirates did not get out of that jam either. Ben Ross singled in a run, Paul walked one in, Logan Skaar hit a sacrifice fly and the last run scored on a two-out error.

Grunseth was two for two. Halida, Beau Pockat and Krizan added a hit each.

Max Pockat pitched into the fourth, Beau Pockat was credited with an inning and Nichols pitched two-thirds of an inning.