SOUTH WAYNE - The Warriors have likely had their televisions tuned to Fox Sports Net a lot over the past couple weeks.
The same way the power-packed Milwaukee Brewers have made an early-season living manufacturing runs, Black Hawk (3-1, 1-1 Six Rivers East) was like a well-oiled machine in pulling out a 5-3 victory over Monticello with a 3-run sixth inning Monday night.
The Warriors, who recently slugged six bombs in a non-conference doubleheader at Belmont, countered two Ponies runs in the top of the sixth to turn a 3-2 deficit into a victory. Senior pitcher Joey Hartwig helped his cause with a leadoff double before classmate Taylor Goodman drove him home. Four batters later, third baseman Steve Herbst cracked a ringing, 2-out, 2-run double that got Hartwig back on the hook for the victory.
Hartwig struck out 13 batters and went the distance, as did Ponies starter Dusty Ritschard who fanned eight. Black Hawk took its second lead of the game in the fourth when Payton Schliem put down a picturesque suicide squeeze bunt with the bases loaded.
Black Hawk coach Todd Strang said he couldn't have rolled it up the first baseline any better.
"Beautiful, just a beautiful bunt," Strang said.
Monday was only the third time the Ponies have played on dirt this season. They hope to rebound Thursday at Pecatonica while Black Hawk heads to Albany.
Barneveld 3, Albany 2 (8 innings)
Tyler Bauman pitched like he had ice water in his veins Monday night, but Patrick Clerkin played the role just a bit better.
Bauman, a junior, worked all eight innings for Albany (0-2, 0-1) and fanned four while walking three but, in the top of the eighth inning, the lefty Clerkin got into a homer to right field that proved the game-winner for the Eagles (2-0, 1-0).
"It was a shot too; he hit it very well," Albany coach Brian Dahl said.
After Barneveld scored a run in both of the first two innings, Comets senior Jordan Dean got things even by crushing a 2-run shot of his own that brought home Mike Elmer.
Albany hosts Black Hawk Thursday.
The same way the power-packed Milwaukee Brewers have made an early-season living manufacturing runs, Black Hawk (3-1, 1-1 Six Rivers East) was like a well-oiled machine in pulling out a 5-3 victory over Monticello with a 3-run sixth inning Monday night.
The Warriors, who recently slugged six bombs in a non-conference doubleheader at Belmont, countered two Ponies runs in the top of the sixth to turn a 3-2 deficit into a victory. Senior pitcher Joey Hartwig helped his cause with a leadoff double before classmate Taylor Goodman drove him home. Four batters later, third baseman Steve Herbst cracked a ringing, 2-out, 2-run double that got Hartwig back on the hook for the victory.
Hartwig struck out 13 batters and went the distance, as did Ponies starter Dusty Ritschard who fanned eight. Black Hawk took its second lead of the game in the fourth when Payton Schliem put down a picturesque suicide squeeze bunt with the bases loaded.
Black Hawk coach Todd Strang said he couldn't have rolled it up the first baseline any better.
"Beautiful, just a beautiful bunt," Strang said.
Monday was only the third time the Ponies have played on dirt this season. They hope to rebound Thursday at Pecatonica while Black Hawk heads to Albany.
Barneveld 3, Albany 2 (8 innings)
Tyler Bauman pitched like he had ice water in his veins Monday night, but Patrick Clerkin played the role just a bit better.
Bauman, a junior, worked all eight innings for Albany (0-2, 0-1) and fanned four while walking three but, in the top of the eighth inning, the lefty Clerkin got into a homer to right field that proved the game-winner for the Eagles (2-0, 1-0).
"It was a shot too; he hit it very well," Albany coach Brian Dahl said.
After Barneveld scored a run in both of the first two innings, Comets senior Jordan Dean got things even by crushing a 2-run shot of his own that brought home Mike Elmer.
Albany hosts Black Hawk Thursday.
