Onalaska Luther hands Royals first loss, Seneca responds with victory over Cashton
Despite tough conditions, Seneca’s Jacob Payne used a strong showing on the mound to keep the Royals close against Luther. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Briar Wall watches his ground ball travel down the line before going foul. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Shortstop Dawson Davidson gets ready to make a possible play at second base. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Left Fielder Hunter Hagensick (left) gets into position to make the catch in front of Center Fielder Owen Oppriecht (right). (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
First baseman Reggie George waits for the throw on the Royals pick-off attempt as the Luther base runner dives back to the bag, (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Second baseman Briar Wall makes a catch on a pop-up in the infield. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Owen Oppriecht connects on the a pitch up in the strike zone. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Seneca catcher Kaden Roberts pounces on a Luther bunt attempt in front of home plate. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
Dawson Davidson gets to his feet after diving back to first base on a pick-off attempt by the Luther Knights. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
By Derick Kelly
The Seneca Royals baseball team hosted a triangular with Onalaska Luther and Cashton on a very cold and blustery Saturday and came away with a split.
The Royals opened the day by hosting the Luther Knights and the visitors from the Coulee Conference came away with a 3-0 victory thanks to two runs in the second and one in the third inning. Luther kept the Seneca offense in check all-game. The Royals collected just two hits during the game, a single by Kaden Roberts and a double by Hunter Hagensick. Those were the only two Royal base runners in the entire game.
Dawson Davidson started for Seneca on the mound and took the loss with two runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched.
Jacob Payne came on in relief of Davidson and allowed one run on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.
The Royals took on Scenic Bluffs Conference member Cashton in the third and final game of the day and came away with a 3-1 victory.
Seneca scored a run in each of the first three innings to grab a 3-0 lead before the Eagles pushed a run across in the top of the seventh inning. The hosts ended the Eagles rally attempt to cement the 3-1 win.
Seneca was led at the plate by Owen Oppriecht (3-for-3 with one RBI), Briar Wall (2-for-3 with a double and one RBI), Davidson (0-for-1 with a walk and two runs scored), Damian Hall (0-for-2 with one run scored) and Gage Wall (0-for-2 with one RBI).
Roberts kept the Eagles off-balance the entire game as he pitched a complete game with five hits, one run, one walk and six strikeouts as the Royals improved to 5-1 with the win.
After Monday’s showdown at Ithaca, the Royals travel to Weston on Thursday, and Cassville on Friday to face Potosi/Cassville before ending the week on Saturday at home against Ithaca at 10 a.m.
