The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
HOME WRECKERS
Dutchmen have home opener spoiled with 14-3 loss to Onsted
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 17, 2008
With two wins under its belt, the Manchester varsity baseball team was looking to continue building momentum heading into Cascades Conference play.
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The Onsted Wildcats had other ideas and stopped the Flying Dutchmen in their tracks.
Costly mistakes and the bats of Aaron Shoemaker proved to be the difference Monday as the Wildcats cruised to a 14-3 victory over the Dutchmen, spoiling Manchester's home opener.
The game was stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule. Manchester (2-1) nearly avoided the mercy rule by plating its three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but a pop fly with the bases loaded ended the game.
"We didn't play well, and it was not our day," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "We'll need to get things turned around in a hurry."
Onsted used three big innings to put the game away. The Wildcats plated three runs in the top of the first, then added four in the third. After striking for two more in the fourth, the Wildcats erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth to put the mercy rule into effect.
Onsted starting pitcher Andrew Strom and a line shot by Coyle Render in the bottom of the third held the Dutchmen to one hit in the first four innings. Manchester began to show signs of life in the bottom of the fifth, collecting three hits off closer Travis Fritz. Ben Stachnik broke the shutout with a RBI single that scored Sam Hatt, then scored on an Onsted error. Later in the inning, Evan Bortmas belted a RBI single, scoring Render and pulling the Dutchmen to within 14-3. Manchester loaded the bases with two outs, but Fritz forced the pop out to end the game.
"The bottom of the fifth inning is something we can build off of," Fether said.
Shoemaker got the Wildcats off to a good start in the top of the first inning with a RBI single that scored Paul Damon, then came home himself on an error. Later in the frame, Tyler Berger's RBI single scored Brendyn Paules, making it 3-0.
Hanewald struck out the first two Onsted batters and retired the side in order an inning later, but the Wildcats took control with their four-run third inning. Travis Wobrock scored on Strom's fielder choice, then Paules came home on a passed ball. Steven Fritz added to the lead with a two-RBI single, making it 7-0.
Manchester had chances to get back in the game thanks to four walks by Strom, but couldn't capitalize. In the bottom of the first, Justin Welton was caught stealing second to end the frame. Two innings later, Strom picked off a Manchester runner at first base, ending another threat.
"We made a lot of base running errors today which killed us," Fether said. "Hopefully we learned some things."
Shoemaker was responsible for Onsted's two runs in the fourth, scoring Damon on a fielder's choice and coming home on a wild pitch. An inning later, Justin Thomas scored Justin Fritz with a single, then Zach Miller scored on a walk. Two batters later, Paules delivered a bases-clearing double, making it 14-0.
Stachnik finished with a hit, RBI and run scored to lead the Dutchmen. Bortmas added a hit and RBI, while Render had a hit and a run. Josh Miller also had a hit for Manchester.
Hanewald took the pitching loss, allowing seven runs on six hits with two strikeouts in three innings.
Shoemaker finished with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored to lead Onsted. Damon and Wobrock each added two hits and a run scored. Strom struck out four in four innings while holding the Dutchmen to one hit for the pitching win.
Dutchmen at Sand Creek
A pair of unearned runs in the second inning was all Will Rickert needed to get the pitching win as the Manchester varsity baseball team held on for a 2-1 victory over the Sand Creek Aggies in a non-conference game April 9.
Justin Welton got on base thanks to a passed ball in the second inning, then gave Manchester first blood by scoring on an error. Later in the inning, Ben Stachnik drove home Trevor Hanewald with an RBI single, making it 2-0.
Rickert took over from there, keeping the Aggies off the board until the bottom of the fifth. The junior finished with 11 strikeouts and held Sand Creek to one run on three hits in five innings. Welton earned the save, striking out two in the final two frames.
Stachnik, Rickert, Grant Jobkar and Isaac Miller each finished with a hit for Manchester.
Dutchmen at Adrian Madison
Trevor Hanewald and the Manchester varsity baseball team appeared in mid-season form as the Flying Dutchmen posted a 5-2 victory over the Adrian Madison Trojans in the season opener April 8.
Manchester used three pitchers in the game, with starter Hanewald striking out seven and not allowing a hit through four innings. Logan Zigila had four strikeouts in two innings, but allowed two runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lucas Sweet earned the save, striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
"Our pitching was very good by everyone," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "Trevor had the no-hitter going, but had thrown a lot of pitches and we weren't going to get him hurt in the first game. We made plays in the field, which helps in low scoring games."
Josh Caswell finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Dutchmen. Isaac Miller was 1-for-2 with a RBI and two runs scored, while Will Rickert was 1-for-3 with an RBI and run.
Chase Mann took the pitching loss for Madison despite striking out six Durchmen in three innings.
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