B-E baseball boosts record to 8-0; Farmers rout South Fulton

By PHIL JOHNSON
For The Weekly Post

While the early part of last week brought cold and wet weather to area baseball action, high school teams were able to break out Friday, Saturday and Monday. And the uniqueness of Monday’s eclipse did not disrupt play. Here is what took place.

Brimfield-Elmwood – The unbeaten Indians (8-0) topped Peoria Heights 7-2 in a Prairieland-ICAC home contest Monday. The pesky visitors were in front 2-1 until the hosts struck for three in both the fifth and sixth innings.

Kyle Binder knocked a double with three RBI, Brady Johnson hit two doubles to go with two RBI and Brodey Kenney drove in a run. Kaden Schatsiek and Jude Strahm also had extra-base hits.

Drew Kieser picked up another win on the bump in complete-game fashion with a line of seven strikeouts, five hits, two earned runs and four walks.

B-E got two wins on Saturday at Bushnell.

The first was a no-hitter by sophomore pitcher Sean Crowe over Prairieland foe Bushnell-Prairie City. A hit batter and an infield error prevented a perfect game by Crowe, who fanned seven in a 14-0 rout.

“Sean was incredible. It seemed like every pitch was a strike and went where it was called,” B-E Coach Kevin Kreiter said. “Kyle Binder started the scoring with a two-run home run that hit off of the scoreboard.”

Kieser drove in three runs. Schatsiek and Brady Sumner each had two RBI. Cleve Bizosky joined the RBI parade with one.
The second game of Saturday’s doubleheader saw the Indians beat Chicago Leo 7-4 with five innings of Johnson pitching to 10 strikeouts, one walk and two earned runs. Bizosky pitched the final two, fanning five and yielding one hit and one walk.
B-E hit all singles. Landon Binder, Kyle Binder, Strahm and Dane Fagerburg each drove in one run. Kieser drove in two runs.

B-E is at ICAC rival Illini Bluffs today, April 11, for a rematch of an Indians win from two weeks ago.

Farmington – The Farmers (4-6) were on the short end of a 3-2 walk-off battle at Cuba LVC Monday. Carter Lambin pitched well in the complete-game effort, yielding two earned runs and three walks while striking out three.

The Farmers connected for eight hits, led by two along with two RBI from Landon Crawford. Lane Wheelwright and Dawson Foster each added two hits.

FHS had seven runs in the first inning of a 13-3 Prairieland win over South Fulton on Saturday at home. Ben Marvel led with three hits and three RBI. Foster collected two RBI and hit a double. Bronson Atchley and Brody Evans drove in two apiece. Tristan Hendy, Jonah Welker, Henry Easley and Alais Hart each drove in one run in the offensive attack.

Marvel pitched 1.2 frames and struck out two. Jacob Evans tossed 2.1 frames and struck out six. Easley pitched one inning and gave up one run.

Farmington is home today for a non-conference meeting with Canton.

Princeville – The Princes (4-7) gave up a single run in every inning except the fourth in a 5-3 setback to Peoria Christian on the road Monday.

Noah Geiger gave up nine hits but just one earned run, while fanning six in 4.2 innings. Jett Benningfield threw 1.1 innings with one walk and one strikeout. Coley Palmer and Logan Olshawsky each recorded an RBI.

The Princes traveled to LTC neighbor Stark County Saturday to split a doubleheader, losing the opener, 6-5, then coming from behind to prevail in the nightcap, 8-6.

Ahead 5-3 after its half of the fifth in the opener, PHS gave up three in the last half of that inning. Palmer and Taylor Hess split the first two innings from the mound. Parker Dickinson pitched the last four, walking five and whiffing six.

The Princes connected for eight hits, two each for Dickinson, Jake Williams and Olshawsky.

Princeville turned it around in the second game behind four scores in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Williams went 4-for-5 and scored two runs. Hunter Johnson had a double and an RBI. Geiger recorded an RBI and two hits. Carter Peterson collected two hits and two RBI. Dickinson and Olshawsky each had two hits and one RBI. Matt Bowers and Benningfield each had a hit and an RBI in the offensive onslaught.

PHS is at Ridgewood on Saturday in LTC play.

ROWVA-Williamsfield – The Cougars (5-7) got roughed up by ICAC rival Illini Bluffs 10-0 on Monday at home. The visitors scored four in the first and four in the third to run away.

Mason Sornberger was the starting pitcher. He was followed by Preston Schroeder, Kole Miller and Max Nichols. Only Nichols was able to have much success vs. IB, which lashed out nine hits and walked eight times.

The R-W offense also struggled, with Luke Nelson getting the only hit.

The Cougars split a Saturday LTC twinbill at home versus Ridgewood, coming up short 6-2, then winning 6-3.

In the opener, five runs in the sixth from the visitors sealed the outcome. Jaxson Strom did have a strong pitching performance with 13 strikeouts. Drake DeJaynes and Connor Buck also pitched.

Lewis Sams drove in both runs. Cade Farquer added a hit in the effort.

A DeJaynes three-run home run in the fifth frame would be the difference in the second game win over Ridgewood. Sams threw 3.1 innings for R-W. He walked five but gave up just one earned run, three hits and struck out four. DeJaynes tossed 3.2 innings and fanned seven.

“We played well enough to sweep, but one poor inning in the first game cost the sweep. Our approaches at the plate were solid, and our pitching was good overall,” R-W Assistant Coach Mike Weitekamp said. “Ridgewood is a quality team, and we competed well with them. A lot of positives came from today.”
The Cougars dropped a 5-4 decision to non-conference opponent Midwest Central at Manito last Friday. The hosts scored two in the sixth and one in the sixth for the comeback, partially because of six R-W errors.

Sams, Schroeder, Sornberger and Miller kept the team within reach from the mound in the close game.

Farquer hit safely twice and had a double and two RBI.

DeJaynes also hit a double with two RBI.

The Cougars next play on the road versus Midland on Friday, April 12, in non-conference action.