Eagle baseball extends home win streak, keeps GVC title hopes alive

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 4/28/21

Two nights removed from a senior-night victory over Newburg, Cory Nicholson’s Vienna Eagle baseball team took on Steelville’s Cardinals in a Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) …

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Eagle baseball extends home win streak, keeps GVC title hopes alive

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Two nights removed from a senior-night victory over Newburg, Cory Nicholson’s Vienna Eagle baseball team took on Steelville’s Cardinals in a Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) showdown.

Originally scheduled to be played in Steelville last Wednesday, unplayable field conditions in Crawford County caused the game to be moved to Vienna.

That proved beneficial for the Eagles.

Plating eight runs in the first two innings, Vienna withstood several late-inning threats by the Cardinals to hold on for an 8-4 victory in Maries County.

With the victory, VHS extended their home winning streak to 13 games.

Getting the start on the pitching mound, Nathan Kleffner retired the Cardinals in order in the top of the first inning giving his Eagle offense a chance to draw first blood in the bottom half of the first.

Alijah Mercer started the offensive frenzy with a one-out single before moving to third base on a Kleffner double.

Landon Kloeppel then delivered a two-RBI double to left field giving Vienna an early 2-0 lead.

Now with two outs, Landon Parmeley kept the inning alive with a RBI single to right field scoring Landon Kloeppel for a 3-0 Eagle lead.

Owen Kloeppel then singled to center field advancing Parmeley to third base.

Two pitches later, Will Veasman capped Vienna’s five-run first inning with a two-RBI single to right field.

Pitching around a two-out single in the top of the second inning, Kleffner kept Steelville off the scoreboard moving to the bottom half of the second.

Lucas Magner led off the bottom of the second inning reaching on an error.

Stealing second during Mercer’s next at bat, Magner advanced to third base on a ground out.

Adding to his first-inning double, Kleffner lifted a RBI single to center field scoring Magner and bumping Vienna’s lead to 6-0.

Keeping the line moving, Landon Kloeppel singled to left field advancing Kleffner to third base.

Colin John was then hit by a pitch loading the bases for Parmeley.

Two pitches later, Parmeley doubled to right field scoring Kleffner and Landon Kloeppel giving the Eagles an 8-0 lead after two innings.

After a scoreless third inning, Steelville got on the board in the top of the fourth inning.

Three hits and a walk led to two Cardinals run with Vienna still leading Steelville 8-2 at the midway point of the game.

Scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth put the Eagles three outs away from yet another victory on their home field.

In the top of the seventh inning, Steelville turned three hits into two runs before Kleffner sealed the deal on a complete-game victory for Vienna.

Allowing four runs on eight hits, Kleffner also finished the game with 11 strikeouts.

In the ensuing junior varsity game, Vienna scored in each of the three innings to defeat Steelville 6-3.

Following a scoreless top of the first, Eli Hayes led the bottom of the first off for Vienna reaching on an error.

Stealing second and taking third base on a Cash Stricklan fly out, Hayes scored on a Will Veasman RBI ground out for a 1-0 Eagle lead after one inning.

Seeing Steelville tie the game with a run in the top of the second inning, Vienna looked to reclaim the lead in the bottom half of the second.

Duncan Wilkinson was hit by a pitch with one out before a Gavin Schwartze single moved him to third base.

Wilkinson scored on an error before a Ben Veasman RBI single gave VHS a 3-1 lead after two innings of JV baseball action.

Steelville turned a walk, a hit by pitch, two errors and a hit into two runs re-tying the game at 3-3 with Vienna heading into the bottom of the third inning of the JV game.

Tanner Nichols, Deekin Wagner and Stricklan all scored in the bottom of the third inning giving the Eagles a win in the JV game.

Weather and field conditions permitting, Vienna will face South Callaway tomorrow (Thursday) on the road before returning home Friday to take on Laquey at Vienna City Park.

Both games have a 5 p.m., first pitch for varsity action.