War Eagle offense sputters in tough six-game stretch
Caden Helle pitched four innings in game one of the War Eagles’ doubleheader versus Kee. (Photo by Jarod Bormann)
War Eagle Max Nuehring slides safely back to first base on a pick-off attempt by Kee. (Photo by Jarod Bormann)
Ashton Thiese records a force out at third base in a game last week. (Photo by Bev Hamann)
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
The Clayton Ridge-Central baseball team endured a tough six-game schedule this past week, dropping all six games and falling to 2-7 in conference play and 3-13 overall.
The War Eagles started the week at home, in a June 5 doubleheader versus Kee. They were down 3-1 entering the fourth inning when the Hawks pulled away to win 13-1.
The War Eagle offense produced one hit by Caden Helle and one run, scored by Kylar Millard on an error. Max Nuehring also stole a base.
The defense committed seven errors and allowed six stolen bases. With a combination of pitchers Helle, Owen Hammersland, Nate Meier and Carson Ruegnitz, the team gave up nine hits and seven walks, while striking out seven Hawks.
Game two started out better for the War Eagles, who took an early 1-0 lead, but the Hawks put up six runs in the top of second, followed by five more in the top of the fifth, handing CR-C an 11-2 loss.
War Eagle hitters produced two hits, one from Helle and the other by Nuehring. The RBIs came from Helle and Owen Ludovissy. The team also stole two bases on three attempts, one by Kahne Bolsinger and the other by Helle.
On the mound, Ashton Thiese put in three innings, giving up three hits and four walks, while striking out four batters. Isaac Loan also went three innings, giving up five hits, and two walks. He had two strikeouts. Combined, they allowed seven earned runs.
On June 6, the War Eagles welcomed the Wapsie Valley Warriors, and from the first inning on, were simply outgunned. The Warriors won the game 15-2.
The War Eagles managed three hits—one coming from Thiese and two by and Bolsinger. Bolsinger also produced an RBI, as did Braxton Bormann.
On the mound, Seth Kregel went one and two-thirds innings, allowing three hits, three walks and two earned runs. Jack Scherf pitched five and one-third innings, giving up nine hits and six walks, and striking out one.
The team went on a road trip to Sumner-Fredericksburg June 7, in what was the closest game of the week for the War Eagles. The game was scoreless, entering the fourth inning, but in the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars put two runs across. CR-C responded with a run of their own in the top of the fifth, but two more scoreless innings followed, handing the War Eagles another loss.
The CR-C bats put up four hits, with one each from Bolsinger, Thiese, Millard and Meier, who also scored the team’s only run.
Pitching duties went to Colton Hoeger, who threw a complete game with four hits and two earned runs. He struck out two Cougars.
In their June 8 game, the War Eagles hosted North Fayette Valley. The game took a turn in the top of the second inning, when the TigerHawks scored five runs. While the War Eagles punched a run across in the bottom of the third, it wasn’t enough to keep pace, and the War Eagles took a 14-2 loss.
The offense finished with three hits, one apiece from Helle, Bolsinger and Millard. Thiese earned an RBI and Helle hit a homerun. Helle also scored both runs and stole a base, along with Bolsinger and Millard.
The War Eagles used a quintet of pitchers, including Bolsinger, Millard, Meier, Nuehring and Hammersland. Combined, they gave up eight hits, seven walks and five earned runs, while striking out nine.
The War Eagles have another busy week, with four games. It started with a June 12 doubleheader at MFL MarMac. On June 13, South Winneshiek will come to town, then, on June 15, the War Eagles will play Postville.
