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The two teams combined for 11 errors and just eight hits. In the end, it was an Isaac Vazquez RBI single — after a hit batter and a passed ball — that ultimately led to Arcadia getting the 8-7 victory.
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Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau's Cory Abel pitches during their game Tuesday night at G-E-T High School in Galesville, Wis. (Photo by Fred Schulze/Winona Daily News) |
“Neither team played stellar defense,” Arcadia coach Paul Anderson said, stating the obvious. “We have to completely clean up (the defense).”
All but three runs in the game were unearned, including Vazquez’s single. He was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Arcadia only gave up one earned run in the game, and that was Heath Folkedahl’s solo home run to left, which tied the game at 7-7 in the fifth.
“We gave them a lot of unearned runs,” said Arcadia senior Tyler Manley, who had two errors himself.
The Redmen (9-7, 7-5) provided all the offensive firepower with two home runs. Luke Neitzel gave G-E-T a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run homer, which came after an error and a walk.
Things weren’t going to bad for G-E-T until the fifth inning. The Redmen had a 6-3 lead at that point, but then committed four errors — three by shortstop David Kulig — allowing Arcadia to take a 7-6 lead.
“They had four hits in the game,” said G-E-T coach Jeff Reikowski. “They should have ended with one, maybe two runs. We just found ways to beat ourselves.”
It’s been a tough couple of games for Reikowski and his squad. Friday, the Redmen lost 21-0 to Dairyland Conference leading West Salem.
“I’ve done everything I can think of to motivate these guys,” Reikowski said. “I’ve been here three years, and I don’t know what else to do.”
Cory Abel started the game against West Salem. He started against Arcadia, too, and bounced back fine. He had two strikeouts and gave up three hits, three walks and two earned runs over five innings.
Arcadia’s Dylan Pronschinske went five innings, giving up four hits, four walks and one earned run. He struck out six.
Tyler Manley relieved him in the sixth with a one-run lead, and his defense managed to hold it, despite some hiccups.
Manley struck out the first two batters he faced, before walking Kulig in the sixth. Max Ferguson later threw him out at first base.
In the bottom of the seventh — after Kulig retired Arcadia in order in the top half — the Raiders committed an error and Manley walked a batter to put the tying run on, but he kept Folkendahl from getting another homer, striking him out instead to end it.
