By Brian McKim
Falls City got three runs in the first,one in the second and two insurance runs in the fifth and sixth inning to earn the 8-0 win. Not only did Chaydyn Butler and Zach Beaver combine for a shutout, but they also allowed just three hits and Falls City played error-free baseball on defense in the win.
In the bottom of the first Beaver got a one-out single, followed by a base hit by Ransom Campbell to left field. After a passed ball, Beaver scored on an error by the catcher for the games’ first run. Nick Novak and Noah Milam drew walks to load the bases for Kyle Black who drove in two runs with a single up the middle to make it 3-0. In the second frame, Kade Bredemeier got a one-out single to right field. Beaver then moved him to third on a groundout which brought up Butler who got the RBI single to give the Blue Storm a 4-0 lead.
The score remained 4-0 until the fifth inning. Beaver reached on an error, pitches, and Novak hit Butler and Campbell drove the first pitch he saw to left field for a two-run RBI. In the sixth, the Blue Storm used a base hit, an error and a sac fly to make it 7-0. Another error allowed Beaver to reach base, a walk and another hit by pitch loaded the bases for Novak, who reached on an error to score Beaver and make the final 8-0.
Beaver led the offense going 1-4 with three runs scored. Novak was 1-3 with a double, and two RBI and Kyle Black was 1-3 with two RBI. Butler earned the win on the mound going 3 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and zero runs. Beaver got the save tossing 2 2/3 innings giving up zero hits and no runs.
On Tuesday night the Blue Storm fell to Louisville-Weeping Water 10-7, giving up nine runs in the final two innings.
Bredemeier got a walk to lead off the bottom of the first and Beaver reached on an error. With two outs Butler reached on an error by the center fielder allowing two runs to score. Novak then doubled to left to make it 3-0 and Milam reached on an error, scoring Novak to push the score to 4-0. In the second inning, Eickhoff stroked a double and Bredemeier singled to score Eickhoff to make it 5-0.
A two-out single and stolen base in the fourth put Bredemeier in scoring position for Beaver who brought him in with a single to make it 6-1.
Louisville-Weeping Water used a walk, an intentional walk and a double to cut the lead to 6-3 in the sixth. Bredemeier took over on the mound for Milam and walked the first batter. M Heath then drove a pitch over the fence for a three-run home run to tie the game at six. Falls City bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead 7-6, but Louisville put up four runs in the seventh to take the 10-7 lead, which is where the final score would stay.
Bredemeier was 2-2 at the plate with two walks and three runs scored, and Beaver was 2-4 with two RBI. Milam went five innings on the mound giving up six hits and four runs. Bredemeier came on and picked up the loss going two innings, giving up seven hits and six runs (three earned). Falls City is now 3-3 for the year.
The Juniors also played a pair of games last week, dropping both contests and falling to 1-3 for the year.
On Tuesday FC fell to Louisville- Weeping Water 9-7. FC out hit Louisville 9-8 but committed five errors in the loss. Will Vitosh was 2-3 and Jack Fiegener was 2-3 with a double. Del Casteel and Braden Oliver each had two RBI. Oliver went 1 2/3 innings on the mound, giving up four hits and six runs. Carson Bredemeier got the loss going the final 2 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and three runs.
On Thursday vs. Beatrice Falls City fell behind 11-0 after two and a half innings and never rebounded. FC got one run back in the third and three in the fourth, but Beatrice came right back in the fourth and fifth to win by a final of 18-4.
Beatrice had just six hits, but the Blue Storm defense committed nine errors in the contest.
Vitosh led FC going 1-2 with an RBI double, and Bredemeier had two RBI. Casteel took the loss going 1 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and eight runs (zero earned).
The teams will host Springfield on Wednesday and will hit the road on Thursday to take on Doniphan County.
