BRODHEAD — Despite confirmed tornado touchdowns two hours later in the Brodhead-Juda-Albany area, the Brodhead-Juda baseball team collected its first win of the season 7-1 over Edgerton on Friday, March 31.

The Cardinals played through scattered rain, which eventually resulted in the game being called after the fifth inning. Just four other teams in southern Wisconsin played that evening.

“It was a grind. It was difficult. These guys did a great job. We started early — not really anticipating playing today,” Brodhead-Juda head coach Aaron Guilbault said. “These guys had to come out and overcome all of this, and I’m super proud of them for doing it.”

It took Cardinal starting pitcher Evan Senobe an inning to settle in, though, as Edgerton put a runner in scoring position in the first. Olin Zellmer led off with a single. After inducing a fly out to center, Senobe walked the next batter. He escaped the inning with another pop up and a strikeout.

Edgerton’s Carson Dupuis, a Second-Team All-Conference selection in 2022, found his groove early, striking out the first two Cardinal batters. Gabe Bockhop then singled to left, but Dupuis got the third out of the inning on a grounder to second.

Not to be outdone, Senobe struck out two batters in the top of the second, handing it over to the offense. Brodhead-Juda loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with two walks and a hit by pitch, but Dupuis struck out the side to escape the jam.

“The lefty that started the game threw really hard,” centerfielder Aidyn Vondra said. “I wasn’t expecting him to throw that hard. He made it difficult for us early, but we adjusted to his speed.”

Brodhead-Juda pushed its first run across in the third on an error by Edgerton’s shortstop Zellmer. Trent Neeley led off the inning with a single to center. The next two batters struck out, sending Clayton Elliott to the plate. After a first-pitch strike, he reached on four straight balls.

Neeley came around to score, as Ryan Searls reached on an error. Kohen Sawle overcame a 0-2 count to walk, loading the bases. Dupuis recorded his eighth strikeout of the game to get out of the inning.

Despite a walk and hit by pitch, Senobe got out of the fourth inning with a pick-off play and two strikeouts.

The Cardinals added an insurance run in the fourth, as Vondra began with a single to center. Neeley and David Masloske then reached on full counts to load the bases. For his second straight at-bat, Elliott walked, this time bringing a run across.

The run proved crucial, as Edgerton scored in the fifth inning. After an initial flyout to center, Elliott — who relieved Senobe in the fifth — walked the next two batters. A fielder’s choice, followed by a single, gave the Crimson Tide their first and only run of the game.

The weather got the best of Edgerton’s pitching in the bottom of the fifth as the rain got heavier. After a flyout to right, the next seven batters reached for Brodhead-Juda.

Relief pitcher Logan Hanson hit Sam Searls then walked Senobe, Vondra, Neeley and Bockhop. He threw just ten strikes to 28 balls. Down 4-1 with his pitcher struggling, Edgerton head coach Mike Gregory made another pitching change.

After four pitches from Jack Fox, Vondra — who sat on third — saw an opportunity.

“I saw his windup, and I knew I could beat him,” Vondra said. “I said to coach, ‘I really want to steal on this guy’s windup.’ Coach said, ‘I really want you to, too. Just make sure David knows to take.’ It just happened. It worked out well.”

Vondra stole home on Fox to give Brodhead a 5-1 lead. Entering this season, Vondra is closing in on school records and career milestones in steals, but he doesn’t let that faze him.

“It’s definitely something I’d like to accomplish this season,” Vondra said of the record. “But, by just going out there any playing, it will take care of itself.”

Masloske walked to load the bases again, and Elliott drove a run home with a single. Ryan Searls recorded an RBI groundout to first base for a 7-1 lead before the game was called due to rain. Because the game reached the fifth inning, it was considered a full game.

Elliott reached base in all four of his plate appearances, drawing three walks with one hit and two RBIs. The remaining three hits came from Bockhop, Vondra and Neeley. As a team, the Cardinals drew 12 walks.

Senobe earned the win on the bump, throwing four scoreless innings. He walked five but struck out six. In one inning of relief, Elliott gave up one run on one hit, walking three.