BLANCHARDVILLE — A three-hit day from Dakota Doescher and three-run home run from Everett Johnson propelled Blanchardville past Argyle 12-2 in seven innings in a Home Talent baseball game on Sunday, June 18.
Despite ultimately getting mercy-ruled, Argyle took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a solo shot from Clay Ritschard, an Argyle graduate.
It took Blanchardville two innings to respond, but the Bullets busted the gate wide open with a five-run third.
Doescher, a Pecatonica graduate, sparked the offense with a one-out, full-count walk. The Bullets then loaded the bases with a single from AJ Hendrickson, a Pecatonica graduate, and another walk by Cooper Dreyfus, a New Glarus graduate.
Doescher came around to score on a fielder’s choice from Kyle Kleppe, a Pecatonica graduate. With two outs, Brooks Chandler, a Pecatonica graduate, singled to center. Everett Johnson, another Pecatonica graduate, then blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence.
Jameson Johnson, part of Pecatonica’s Division 4 state runner-up team, singled to left but was caught stealing to end the inning.
After a three-up, three-down inning for Argyle, the Bullets tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Doescher singled to left. Hendrickson and Dreyfus then hit back-to-back RBI singles.
Although the Beavers got another solo home run from Gavin Johnson, an Argyle graduate, in the top of the seventh, the Bullets enforced the 10-run rule with a five-run seventh.
Three different pitchers toed the rubber for Argyle that inning, including starting pitcher Kylo Barker and relief pitchers Gavin Johnson and Ritschard. Blanchardville took advantage of Barker’s fatigue, as Dreyfus singled and Kleppe walked.
Gavin Johnson faced three batters. Chandler singled up the middle, Everett Johnson was hit by the pitch, and Jameson Johnson walked.
Second relief pitcher Ritschard then walked Hunter Enloe, a Pecatonica graduate. Pinch hitter Elijah Johnson, a 2023 Six Rivers East First-Team All-Conference catcher for Pecatonica, lined and RBI single to make it 11-1. Doescher then completed his 3-for-3 day with an RBI single to left, enforcing the 10-run rule.
Doescher led Pecatonica with three hits and two stolen bases. With his home run and bases loaded hit by pitch, Everett Johnson drove in four runs. Hendrickson, Dreyfus and Chandler had multiple-hit games. Drew Schliem pitched all seven innings in the win, striking out five without issuing a walk.
Argyle tallied five hits with solo home runs from Ritschard and Gavin Johnson. Barker suffered the loss, giving up nine earned runs on 10 hits.
