EVANSVILLE - Brodhead's baseball team did what it could, but the gusty winds, chilly conditions, a few controversial calls and defensive miscues cost the Cardinals their first win of the season with an 11-9 loss to rival Evansville.
"The previous game I wasn't very happy with our effort," head coach Paul Ritschard said.
Despite the weather and poor performance against Beloit Turner on Saturday, Ritschard knew his team would bring a worthy effort against one of its biggest rivals.
"With us, we have a huge rivalry with Evansville. We always want to beat them. I knew we would be up, and I wanted us to bring our A-game, and unfortunately we brought our B-plus game," Ritschard said. "(But) we had a fantastic effort tonight."
Brodhead scored a run right away in the first as Tyler Welch came home on a double by Michael Peterson. Peterson finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple.
"I really liked how Michael came to hit the ball tonight," Ritschard said.
Cardinals southpaw Billy Sangermano allowed three runs in the bottom of the first inning after a Texas leaguer and an error. Brodhead tied the score at 3 in the second and took a one-run lead in the top of the fourth when Thomas Rear scored after a Parker Maveus double.
Evansville plated four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 7-4 lead. The Cardinals brought the score back to within a run in the fifth, but after a slew of errors in the bottom half of the inning, Evansville managed to take a 9-6 lead.
Tyler Malcook led off the sixth with a double to center field, and Tyler Welch reached on an error. Both runs scored on Peterson's second double of the game, and Ethan Douglas came home as Sangermano reached via error.
With Peterson on third with only one out, Sangermano attempted to get picked off on a slow steal to second. Peterson took off for home and appeared to have slid in more than safely. However, he was called out as the tag grazed one of his feet, leaving the score at 9-9 headed into the bottom of the inning.
Evansville plated two more runs, with the first coming on a double to the fence by Tucker Johnson with one out. Peterson relieved Sangermano on the mound during the inning. Sangermano finished with four strikeouts, five walks and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"I was very proud of our pitcher. He picked us up and threw a lot of strikes," Ritschard said. "We just have to play some defense behind him. We made some mistakes and gave up some runs that we never should have."
In a last-ditch effort in the seventh, Maveus' hip check swing was ruled a full swing and was called out on strikes to lead off the inning. Kyle Murray escaped a dropped foul pop-up with a single to left center, but Malcook and Welch were both rung up on strikes.
"I like where our team is progressing. We're hitting the ball hard, and we're scoring some runs. That's what we wanted to work on in the spring," Ritschard said. "Things are looking up."
Maveus finished the game 3-3 and Welch was 2-4.
"The previous game I wasn't very happy with our effort," head coach Paul Ritschard said.
Despite the weather and poor performance against Beloit Turner on Saturday, Ritschard knew his team would bring a worthy effort against one of its biggest rivals.
"With us, we have a huge rivalry with Evansville. We always want to beat them. I knew we would be up, and I wanted us to bring our A-game, and unfortunately we brought our B-plus game," Ritschard said. "(But) we had a fantastic effort tonight."
Brodhead scored a run right away in the first as Tyler Welch came home on a double by Michael Peterson. Peterson finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple.
"I really liked how Michael came to hit the ball tonight," Ritschard said.
Cardinals southpaw Billy Sangermano allowed three runs in the bottom of the first inning after a Texas leaguer and an error. Brodhead tied the score at 3 in the second and took a one-run lead in the top of the fourth when Thomas Rear scored after a Parker Maveus double.
Evansville plated four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 7-4 lead. The Cardinals brought the score back to within a run in the fifth, but after a slew of errors in the bottom half of the inning, Evansville managed to take a 9-6 lead.
Tyler Malcook led off the sixth with a double to center field, and Tyler Welch reached on an error. Both runs scored on Peterson's second double of the game, and Ethan Douglas came home as Sangermano reached via error.
With Peterson on third with only one out, Sangermano attempted to get picked off on a slow steal to second. Peterson took off for home and appeared to have slid in more than safely. However, he was called out as the tag grazed one of his feet, leaving the score at 9-9 headed into the bottom of the inning.
Evansville plated two more runs, with the first coming on a double to the fence by Tucker Johnson with one out. Peterson relieved Sangermano on the mound during the inning. Sangermano finished with four strikeouts, five walks and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"I was very proud of our pitcher. He picked us up and threw a lot of strikes," Ritschard said. "We just have to play some defense behind him. We made some mistakes and gave up some runs that we never should have."
In a last-ditch effort in the seventh, Maveus' hip check swing was ruled a full swing and was called out on strikes to lead off the inning. Kyle Murray escaped a dropped foul pop-up with a single to left center, but Malcook and Welch were both rung up on strikes.
"I like where our team is progressing. We're hitting the ball hard, and we're scoring some runs. That's what we wanted to work on in the spring," Ritschard said. "Things are looking up."
Maveus finished the game 3-3 and Welch was 2-4.
