South O’Brien fell victim to a 10-run inning by MMCRU in what turned out to be a 14-1 loss June 23 at Remsen, The Royals sent 14 batters to the plate in the second inning, which included four MMCRU hits, four walks and several Wolverine errors.
The visitors scored their run in the first inning. Pete Bottjen led off with a base hit and stole second. With one out Brock Riedemann drew a base on balls. Dain Moermond was hit by pitch to load the bases. Bottjen scored on a wild pitch with the other runners moving up a base. A pair of strikeouts by winning pitcher Cody Evans ended the threat.
MMCRU answered with two runs in the bottom of the first and followed that up with the second-inning outburst. The final two runs came in the fourth inning.
There were three other hits for the Wolverines. Designated hitter Mitch Enger singled in the second inning. Brock Riedemann added a base hit in the third. The last hit was in the fifth and final inning and came from Moermond. Tyson Wulf walked in the fourth inning as did Jett Keith in the fifth.
Wulf, the starting and losing pitcher, tossed 1-2/3 innings before giving way to Bottjen. Wulf allowed five hits and 11 runs but only three of the runs were earned. He walked four batters and struck out one. Bottjen finished the second inning and a pitched a scoreless third. After hitting the leadoff batter in the fourth and then getting an out on a fly ball, Bottjen was replaced on the mound by Kaedon Louscher. Bottjen’s line showed two runs (both earned) on two hits with one walk and one hit batter.
In closing out the fourth inning, Louscher yielded an unearned run on one hit and a walk. With the bases loaded he started a 1-2-3 double play. Louscher fielded the comebacker and threw home to get the lead runner. Moermond then relayed the throw to first baseman Riedemann in time to get the batter. It was a solid ending for a defense that had committed nine errors.
S. O’Brien
1 0 0 0 0 – 1
MMCRU
2 10 0 2 x – 14