Diamond Dutchmen score pair of FRC victories

BY Will Johnson

Sports Editor

wjohnson@wardpub.com

Outlasting Hermann’s Bearcats 17-16 last Thursday night in a game delayed by heavy rain and lightning for an hour, Steven Kemp’s Owensville Dutchmen baseball team looked to continue their winning ways inside the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) hosting St. Clair’s Bulldogs Monday night at OHS Field.

Getting the start on the pitching mound, Dutchmen junior Chase Weirich quickly helped his own cause in the bottom of the first inning.

Seeing Zaiden Gates walk and Jaden Gerlemann single in front of him, Weirich deposited an 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence for a 3-run home run giving the Dutchmen an early 3-0 lead after one inning.

Allowing just three hits and two walks over six innings, Weirich earned the win during Owensville’s 4-0 victory Monday afternoon over the visiting Bulldogs.

OHS added their other run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Gates singled and scored on a Jaden Gerlemann RBI single with two outs.

Last Thursday hosting Hermann’s Bearcats, Owensville and their Gasconade County rivals to the north exchanged the lead eight times before Jansen Loeb drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning helping the Dutchmen end an over four-hour baseball game that saw both teams combine for 33 runs, 28 hits and 24 walks.

Hermann struck first highlighted by doubles from Charlie Tyree and Colton Ruediger leading to three runs and a 3-0 Bearcat led before Owensville’s first turn at the plate in the bottom of the first inning.

Zaiden Gates led the frame off with a single before scoring on a Jaden Gerlemann RBI ground out.

Loeb then singled and scored on a Landon Kramme RBI double trimming the Bearcat lead to 3-2 after one inning.

After Dutchmen starting pitcher Adam Wilson held Hermann scoreless in the top of the second inning, Owensville looked to take their first lead in the bottom half of the second.

Chris Allen doubled and scored on a Logan Bailey RBI single tying the game at 3-3 before Bailey later scored on a passed ball giving the Dutchmen their first lead of the game.

Gates then walked and scored on a Gerlemann RBI ground out putting Owensville in front 5-3 after two innings.

Drawing seven walks in the top of the third inning, Hermann turned those and two hits into seven runs giving them a 10-5 lead entering the bottom half of the third.

Scoring for the Bearcats in the top of the third included Lane Kohlbusch, Bracksten Carr, Cole Traub, Chase Romig, Nolan Ogroski, Caden Humphrey and Tyree.

Answering with six runs in the bottom of the third inning, Owensville reclaimed an 11-10 lead near the halfway point of the game before a weather delay ensued due to heavy rain and lightning.

When play resumed in the top of the fourth, Ogroski walked and scored before Humphrey singled and scored on a Tyree RBI ground out giving Hermann a 12-11 lead.

Owensville equaled the Bearcats with two runs in the bottom of the fourth when Liam Rasmussen was hit by a pitch and scored before Bailey singled and scored putting the orange and black back in front 13-12 after four innings.

Pitching in relief of Wilson, Elias Medlock pitched around two walks and a single in Hermann’s half of the fifth inning.

Batting around the lineup in the bottom of the fifth inning, Owensville plated three runs when Landon Kramme was hit by a pitch and scored, Allen walked and scored to go along with Bailey singling and scoring when Gerlemann was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded giving the Dutchmen a 16-12 lead after five innings.

Hermann answered with three runs in the top of the sixth inning when Braden Schutt walked and scored before Kohlbusch also walked and scored to go along with Ruediger singling and scoring on a Lane Cramer RBI double pulling Hermann to within a run at 16-15.

Down to their last out in the top of the seventh inning, Ogroski led off with a single before scoring on a two-out RBI double from Tyree tying the game at 16-16.

Looking to avoid extra innings, Owensville patiently found their way on the base paths.

Gates was hit by a pitch before a Gerlemann single led to an intentional walk to Weirich loading the bases for Loeb.

Walking on four straight pitches, Loeb allowed Gates to score the game-winning run.

Pitching an inning and two-thirds of relief baseball, Layton Homeyer earned the win allowing an unearned run on three hits and a walk to go with four strikeouts.

Ruediger took the tough-luck loss also pitching an inning and two-thirds allowing a run on one hit and four walks to go with two strikeouts.

OHS will return to action this weekend in the WOW Wood Bat Tournament in northwest Missouri facing Chillicothe in opening-round action Friday at 4 p.m., in Savannah.

They will then play two games on Saturday to conclude the tournament before hosting Fulton’s Hornets next Tuesday at OHS Field.