By Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Leader Photo by Morgan Rode Shawano’s Kaleb Lowney makes a throw to first base in the third inning of Monday’s Bay Conference loss to West De Pere.
Leader Photo by Morgan Rode Shawano’s Karson Rades throws to first during the second inning of Monday’s Bay Conference loss to West De Pere.
The Shawano Community High School baseball team was unable to get its offense going in a 14-0 Bay Conference loss in five innings to West De Pere on Monday.
The West De Pere pitching duo of Benjamin Hampton and Aidan Ahrens did not allow a hit and combined for 10 strikeouts.
“This is the measuring stick where I want the Shawano Hawk program to get. Joe (Rukamp — West De Pere’s coach) runs a quality program over here and every year since I’ve been coaching, 18 years, this has been the measuring stick here,” Shawano coach Rob Wolff said.
“Our pitchers got ahead in counts and then made mistakes, and they made us pay. Those are the things we have to learn from,” Wolff added. “We didn’t have a hit on the day, and you’re not going to beat anyone that way. That first pitcher (Hampton) is one of the best pitchers in the area but that’s no excuse, we have to put the ball in play.”
The Hawks (1-4) had just two baserunners reach in the game. First base was the furthest a Shawano baserunner made it against the West De Pere (4-1) duo.
Senior Sam Tourtillott struck out in the second inning but reached first after a dropped third strike. Senior Nick Grignon walked in the fourth inning.
“He (Hampton, a lefty) had a lot of off-speed. He had a nice two-seam (fastball) that curved out away from our batters. He also had speed on them so our batters couldn’t really get an eye on him. He was just a good pitcher overall,” Grignon said.
Sophomore Zach Erdmann earned the start on the mound for Shawano.
A bunt single opened the contest before Tourtillott cut down a stealing baserunner at second. West De Pere’s second batter walked before scoring on a double for the game’s first tally.
A walk and a bunt single set the stage for a six-run second inning for the Phantoms. Eleven batters came to the plate, with four earning hits and three drawing walks. Shawano also committed an error in the frame.
Senior Kris Krause replaced Erdmann in the third inning. He got the first two outs before being replaced to not go over 30 pitches (so that he could potentially pitch again Tuesday).
West De Pere tacked on five more runs in the frame on the strength of three doubles and five hits total.
After getting the final out of the third on a groundout, sophomore Kaleb Lowney also worked the fourth inning for the Hawks.
An error proceeded a two-run homer for the Phantoms that capped the scoring in the contest.
“We just have to have a quick memory after this one,” Grignon said. “I know we lost this game but we can’t keep dwelling on it.”