Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel Legion batter Hunter VanderLinden gets a hit against Manawa during an American Legion Class A Region 3 tournament game Thursday in Marion. Bonduel won, 6-1.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel Legion pitcher Connor Rosin throws during the third inning of a game against Manawa on Thursday in Marion. Bonduel won, 6-1, in the American Legion Class A Region 3 tournament.
Thanks to a solid day on the mound by Connor Rosin, the Bonduel American Legion baseball team beat Manawa 6-1 to advance in the Class A Region 3 tournament Thursday in Marion.
“They finally came to play,” Bonduel coach Jason Luepke said. “All year long I told them this is what we play for.”
Rosin held Manawa to just one run on five hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking one.
“Connor was right on, again,” Luepke said. “I don’t think he showed his best. I think he plays to his competition or whatever, but pretty solid win.”
The Bears jumped ahead with a trio of runs in the second inning. Colton Dobratz, who led Bonduel at the plate, hit his first double of the day to score one run. Bonduel plated two more on Manawa errors.
After going scoreless the next three innings, Manawa’s Luke Wilz provided an RBI double in the top of the sixth, but Bonduel got it back in the bottom of the frame when Austin Siolka scored on a wild pitch.
Bonduel added two more runs in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Patrick Thiel and a RBI triple by Rosin.
Siolka and Trevor Pederson each had two hits.
“We hit the ball well,” Luepke said. “I like to see that because all year we’ve been struggling with that.”
Manawa pitcher Tanner Hanson allowed nine hits and one walk. He also led Manawa at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double.
“In New London, they did beat us with that same pitcher,” Luepke said. “So we kind of figured we’d see him.”