By PHIL JOHNSON
For The Weekly Post
After racing to a 12-0 start, Brimfield-Elmwood baseball suffered its first loss of the spring Tuesday in a 3-2 home loss to Illini Bluffs.
With the game tied, 1-1, Illini Bluffs scratched two runs in the third on a single, walk, hit by pitch, groundout and wild pitch.
B-E managed five hits, with Jude Strahm going 2-for-4. Caleb Tyre took the loss in three innings of work and Drew Kieser pitched four frames of shutout ball.
On Monday, the Indians turned a close Prairieland Conference game against Peoria Heights into a blowout with an eight-run fifth inning for an 11-4 win.
“We’ve done a good job of answering our opponents’ scores through the season,” B-E baseball coach Brandon Porter said.
There was good balance in the Indians hitting attack. Frank Kelch had two RBI and two hits, including a double. Strahm knocked in two runs. Kyle Binder had two RBIa nd a double. Brady Johnson hit safely twice and Jack Houlihan had two hits.
From the mound Austin Baysingar pitched five innings. He gave up four hits and struck out five.
On Saturday, B-E won at Bushnell-Prairie City, 14-4, in a Prairieland meeting. Michael Seibert tossed five innings, fanning nine and yielding two walks and two hits. Kelch was the hitting leader, going 3-for-5 and driving in four. Strahm, Bryant, Kyle Binder, Landon Binder, Baysingar and Houlihan each knocked in a run.
On April 5, Baysingar delivered a walk-off single to give B-E a 4-3 win over Chillicothe IVC. Kelch started for B-E, whiffing five and giving up just two hits. Baysingar relieved, also striking out five.
“The game was played in difficult weather conditions. In our last at bat, due to darkness, Landon Binder singled, and I replaced him with pinch runner Cam Blodgett, who stole second,” Porter said. “Baysingar singled between short and third, driving in Blodgett on the close call.”
Farmington
Farmington (6-5) had a five-game win streak broken in heartbreaking fashion Monday on the road in a 3-2 Prairieland setback to North Fulton.
The Farmers took a 2-0 lead into North Fulton’s last at bat, but the Wildcats scored three on four hits.
Lane Wheelwright threw six innings, striking out nine and yielding four hits and just one walk. Kane Fox fanned two in the seventh, but the hosts erupted in that inning.
Farmington bats, hot of late, were held in check Monday, aside from doubles by Carter Lambin and Wheelwright.
On Saturday, FHS crushed South Fulton 15-0 at home, started by a seven-run second inning. The Farmers lashed 11 hits, with Riley Embry leading the way on a 3-for-3 clip, that included three RBI and two doubles. Jace Crawford and Wheelwright had two RBI apiece.
Zach Austin struck out four, walked one and gave up just two hits.
Farmington won 6-2 on April 6 over Annawan-Wethersfield at home. FHS started fast, with three in the first and three in the second. Pitching and defense took care of the rest. Thompson was solid for five frames with three whiffs and giving up just two hits. Gage Renken relieved, yielding only one hit.
Embry drove in three and hit a tripl. Austin Thompson and Crawford each drove in a run.
“In our early games of the season, we were allowing extra outs to teams. Our defense has found its groove,” Coach Justin Begner said.
Princeville
Princeville came up just short in a 1-0 non-conference pitcher’s dual versus Peoria Christian Monday on the road. The host team’s one run was unearned. Kasey Juskiv pitched a gem for the Princes, scattering six hits and yielding just one free pass. He struck out four.
“It was our best effort so far for the season,” Princeville coach Chris Delbridge said.
Wyatt Pitman had the one hit for the Princes in Monday’s game.
PHS dropped an 11-4 decision to Knoxville at home Saturday. Princeville was held to three total hits. Gage DeVries clubbed a double.
Parker Dickinson threw 3.1 innings, fanning five and walking one. Logan Olshawsky tossed 3.2 frames, fanning seven and yielding three hits.
The Princeville bats connected well on April 4, but the team gave up too much in a 14-9 Lincoln Trail setback at home to Mercer County.
J.T. Snyder hit two doubles. Griffin Crear, Devries and Pitman each picked up two hits in the effort. From the bump Ted Fritzenmeier struck out three but walked three. Olshawsky fanned five and walked five. Snyder notched three strikeouts.
Princeville’s next game will be at home Friday vs. a Wisconsin school.
ROWVA-Williamsfield
ROWVA-Williamsfield (3-5) ran into an Illini Bluffs team on Monday at home that was close to perfect in a 15-0 ICAC loss. Five runs in the second and six in the fourth helped to sink R-W, and a hitless offense made for a rough afternoon.
Wyatt Self walked twice. Jake McGarry and Lance Trotter each reached once by way of a free pass, and that was the offense for the game. Parker Sornberger pitched for R-W.
The Cougars fell 6-3 at Peoria Christian on April 5 in non-conference action. The hosts built a 5-0 lead after four. R-W plated three in the next two innings, but it was not enough.
Graham Wight got two hits, including a double, for the visitors. Self added a two-bagger. McGarry pitched 3.2 frames, giving up five hits and striking out one. Wight relieved for the duration, yielding two hits and whiffing one.
Up next for R-W is be a non-conference trip to Midland on Friday.
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