War Eagle offense sputters in losses
Carson Ruegnitz was one of a trio of pitchers who faced Turkey Valley last week. The War Eagles lost the game 13-3. (Photos by Bev Hamann)
Kylar Millard picked up a hit and two RBIs in the War Eagle loss to the Trojans.
War Eagle third baseman Ashton Thiese throws to first base for an out against Turkey Valley.
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
Unlike the previous week, the Clayton Ridge-Central baseball bats were silenced across a four-game stretch last week. The War Eagles dropped all four games as they tried to settle in and prepare for the start of the playoffs.
The team started on the road with a doubleheader against North Fayette Valley, and game one was a low-scoring, pitchers duel. The TigerHawks got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the third, and the War Eagle rally in the top of the fourth fell just short, as they lost 2-1.
The Clayton Ridge-Central offense put up four hits, but struck out 13 times. Kylar Millard led the team, going 3 for 3 with two singles and a double and one run scored. Kurt Ross was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
The team also stole three bases on four attempts, with Millard, Ross and Kahne Bolsinger stealing one each.
On the mound, Caden Helle pitched a complete game with four hits and nine strikeouts. He held the TigerHawk offense to a .167 average.
In game two, the War Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but the TigerHawks responded with three in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. Despite pushing two runs across in the top of the fifth, the War Eagles lost the game 7-3.
It was a rough day for the offense which batted just .080, with two hits and four strikeouts. Millard was responsible for both hits and Ross brought in an RBI on a sacrifice. The other two runs were scored on TigerHawk errors.
However, the War Eagles flexed some speed on the base paths, coming up with six steals, two each from Elliot Kelly and Max Nuehring, and one apiece from Ashton Thiese and Helle.
The pitching duties were shared by Jack Scherf and Owen Hammersland, with Scherf going two and two-thirds innings and giving up four hits and three earned runs. Hammersland allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out three batters.
Offensive struggles continued June 20, when Turkey Valley came to town and pounced on the War Eagles, putting up 13 runs en route to a 13-3 victory.
In spite of the score, CR-C tallied eight hits— with seven singles and a double—and engineered six walks. Unfortunately, seven strikeouts and untimely hitting left men on base.
Bohlsinger was 2 for 4 with two singles, Millard went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and Helle was 1 for 2 with one run scored.
It was a committee of pitchers on the mound for the War Eagles, with Colton Hoeger, Isaac Loan and Carson Ruegnitz each making an appearance. Combined, they gave up seven hits, nine walks and four earned runs. They earned six strikeouts.
The final game of the week was at Shooky Fink Field against Kee. The War Eagles were held scoreless, as the Hawks won 6-0. Clayton Ridge-Central was able to put up three hits with six strikeouts. No individual stats were available for this game.
It is a busy week for the War Eagles (5-19) as they prep for the opening round of the playoffs on July 1. But before that, they will host MFL MarMac (14-10) on June 27, followed by a June 28 match-up at Edgewood-Colesburg (9-8), in a game that was rescheduled due to a rain out. Then it’s off to take on the Cascade Cougars (16-7) at American Legion Ball Park on June 29, for a double-header.
The War Eagle postseason starts with a Class 2A first round game against the Oelwein Huskies (9-16). The game will start at 5 p.m. at Starmont.
