DARLINGTON - Griffin Heinberg hit a home run to help the Darlington baseball team win a 17-12 slugfest over Southwestern Monday, April 22.
Darlington (3-2, 2-0 SWAL) pounded out 17 hits, and seven players had two hits or more. Darlington junior Aric Geissbuhler went 3-for-4, and Ben Muhlstein was 3-for-5. Sophomore Cole McDonald went 2-for-3 and Cody Hardyman was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Heinberg was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and Jason Singer was 2-for-5 with three RBI.
The Redbirds scored seven runs in the second and sixth innings. The Redbirds used three pitchers, but Andrew Kelly got the win. Kelly pitched three innings and gave up just one earned run on two hits. He struck out four and walked one. He also went 2-for-5 at the plate.
Black Hawk 10, Albany 7
SOUTH WAYNE - After rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, the Black Hawk baseball team walked off to their first win of the year on a three-run home run by Logan Stietz.
In the seventh inning, Coltin Piefer singled. Tayler Rupnow then doubled to drive in Piefer and cut Albany's lead to 7-6. Kyle Priebe then executed a sacrifice bunt to move Rupnow to third base. With one out in the inning, Rupnow scored on a Brady Meythaler ground out, tying the game at 7-7 and setting the stage for the extra inning dramatics.
Senior Kyle Walters led off the eighth inning with a double, and senior Cory Rupnow was intentionally walked to set up a double play. Senior Michael Powers lined out to center field, and with one out in the inning, Stietz blasted a 2-1 pitch to straight away center field for the win.
"It was good to see. That showed that our team plays with a lot of heart," said Black Hawk coach Jeff Solberg. "They were pretty much jumping up and down at home plate.
"It was a good atmosphere for them to pick up the big win early in the season. Now they know they can win."
Walters finished the game with three doubles and three runs scored. Tayler Rupnow had three hits and drove in three, Michael Powers finished with three hits and a walk, and Cory Rupnow had two hits and two RBI. Stietz had the one hit, but he also reached on an error twice and walked twice.
Walters also started the game on the mound and allowed four runs over two innings. He gave way to Brady Meythalter, who pitched four innings and allowed two runs. Merik Meythaler then came in in the seventh and pitched two innings, allowing one run and striking out four, collecting the win.
Albany's Ethan Pfeuti took the loss, having pitched two and two-thirds innings while allowing five runs.
Black Hawk (1-2, 1-1 Six Rivers East) will travel to Pecatonica today.
In other action, Barneveld clipped Argyle 1-0, and Belmont defeated Monticello 12-0.
Darlington 10, Galena 3
Fulton 15, Darlington 5
Darlington split two games Saturday, April 20. The Redbirds defeated Galena 10-3 and lost to Fulton 15-5.
In the game against Galena, Darlington had a four-run first inning and a four-run fifth. The Redbirds pounded out 12 hits. Darlington sophomore Cole McDonald went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases to lead the Redbirds. Heinberg went 2-for-2 and Geissbuhler as well as Muhlstein was 2-for-3. Singer was 2-for-4. Geissbuhler, Heinberg and Muhlstein each had two RBIs.
Muhlstein got the win on the mound going five innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked one.
Fulton slugged its way past the Redbirds with an eight-run fifth and a four-run sixth. The Steamers had 18 hits off two Redbird pitchers. Geissbuhler went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Kelly went 2-for-3 and Cody Hardyman as well as Singer each were 2-for-4.
Darlington (3-2, 2-0 SWAL) pounded out 17 hits, and seven players had two hits or more. Darlington junior Aric Geissbuhler went 3-for-4, and Ben Muhlstein was 3-for-5. Sophomore Cole McDonald went 2-for-3 and Cody Hardyman was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Heinberg was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and Jason Singer was 2-for-5 with three RBI.
The Redbirds scored seven runs in the second and sixth innings. The Redbirds used three pitchers, but Andrew Kelly got the win. Kelly pitched three innings and gave up just one earned run on two hits. He struck out four and walked one. He also went 2-for-5 at the plate.
Black Hawk 10, Albany 7
SOUTH WAYNE - After rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, the Black Hawk baseball team walked off to their first win of the year on a three-run home run by Logan Stietz.
In the seventh inning, Coltin Piefer singled. Tayler Rupnow then doubled to drive in Piefer and cut Albany's lead to 7-6. Kyle Priebe then executed a sacrifice bunt to move Rupnow to third base. With one out in the inning, Rupnow scored on a Brady Meythaler ground out, tying the game at 7-7 and setting the stage for the extra inning dramatics.
Senior Kyle Walters led off the eighth inning with a double, and senior Cory Rupnow was intentionally walked to set up a double play. Senior Michael Powers lined out to center field, and with one out in the inning, Stietz blasted a 2-1 pitch to straight away center field for the win.
"It was good to see. That showed that our team plays with a lot of heart," said Black Hawk coach Jeff Solberg. "They were pretty much jumping up and down at home plate.
"It was a good atmosphere for them to pick up the big win early in the season. Now they know they can win."
Walters finished the game with three doubles and three runs scored. Tayler Rupnow had three hits and drove in three, Michael Powers finished with three hits and a walk, and Cory Rupnow had two hits and two RBI. Stietz had the one hit, but he also reached on an error twice and walked twice.
Walters also started the game on the mound and allowed four runs over two innings. He gave way to Brady Meythalter, who pitched four innings and allowed two runs. Merik Meythaler then came in in the seventh and pitched two innings, allowing one run and striking out four, collecting the win.
Albany's Ethan Pfeuti took the loss, having pitched two and two-thirds innings while allowing five runs.
Black Hawk (1-2, 1-1 Six Rivers East) will travel to Pecatonica today.
In other action, Barneveld clipped Argyle 1-0, and Belmont defeated Monticello 12-0.
Darlington 10, Galena 3
Fulton 15, Darlington 5
Darlington split two games Saturday, April 20. The Redbirds defeated Galena 10-3 and lost to Fulton 15-5.
In the game against Galena, Darlington had a four-run first inning and a four-run fifth. The Redbirds pounded out 12 hits. Darlington sophomore Cole McDonald went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases to lead the Redbirds. Heinberg went 2-for-2 and Geissbuhler as well as Muhlstein was 2-for-3. Singer was 2-for-4. Geissbuhler, Heinberg and Muhlstein each had two RBIs.
Muhlstein got the win on the mound going five innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked one.
Fulton slugged its way past the Redbirds with an eight-run fifth and a four-run sixth. The Steamers had 18 hits off two Redbird pitchers. Geissbuhler went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Kelly went 2-for-3 and Cody Hardyman as well as Singer each were 2-for-4.
