Bulldog baseball nips Mondovi, splits games in home triangular

BOYCEVILLE — An ability to manufacture a few runs and a masterful mound job proved to be a winning formula for the Bulldogs last Thursday.

Bryce Boda tossed a complete game, Boyceville baseball’s first this season, a five-hit gem to help the Bulldogs snap their four-game losing skid with a tight but much needed 2-1 win over Mondovi May 11.

Trailing 1-0, Boyceville scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to earn the victory.

That momentum carried over into Saturday’s home triangular against Colfax, whom the Bulldogs shutout 4-0 in the tournament’s opening contest.

Boyceville was unable to put a third straight win in the books as Prairie Farm scored 12 runs in the first inning and the Panthers went on to defeat the hosts 13-3 in five innings despite only outhitting the Bulldogs eight to three.

Boyceville had three games left  on the regular season schedule before the WIAA tournament begins on May 25.

Rival Glenwood City will be at Evenson Field this Thursday followed by Cadott for a Friday non-conference contest. The Bulldogs, who are currently tied for third at 5-6 with Mondovi and are 6-9 overall, will finish up against large Dunn-St. Croix co-leader Elk Mound next Monday, May 22.

Mondovi

Boyceville got timely pitching and hitting to rally for a 2-1 home win over Mondovi in a May 11 battle for third place in the large Dunn-St. Croix baseball standings.

Bryce Boda allowed the Buffaloes just a single run while scattering five hits and struck out five to win the pitching dual against Mondovi’s TJ Dawson.

“Bryce Boda pitched an amazing complete game for us,” said head coach Michael Roemhild. “This was the first time in his career that he has gone all 7 innings. Micadin Kahl called a nice game behind the plate and Boda was hitting his spots and mixing up his pitches. He only gave up one run and that was unearned.”  

“Defensively we played pretty good behind him,” added Roemhild. “I like how our guys hustled, even if we didn’t make the play.”

Mondovi scored its only run in the top half of the second inning on a pair of singles aided by a walk and a Boyceville error.

Boyceville got that run back in the fifth when Micadin Kahl reached on an error to start the inning. Kahl stole second and two batters later, senior James Palmer singled Kahl home with the tying run.

The very next inning, Boyceville would score what would prove to be the game winner. With two outs, Jason Gonzales drew a walk and then stole second and went to third on an error. Kahl would then knock Gonzales home with a single for a 2-1 lead the eventual win.

Palmer had a pair of hits in the games which were compliments with singles by Kahl, Reisimer, Luke Knudtson, Cooper Boesl, Boda and Brendan Sempf.

BOYCEVILLE 2, MONDOVI 1
Mondovi…………0  1  0  0  0  0  0 — 1
Boyceville……….0  0  0  0  1  1  X — 2

Triangular

Pitching proved to be the difference for Boyceville during its home triangular against Colfax and Prairie Farm last Saturday.

James Palmer threw a one-hit shutout against the winless Colfax Vikings to earn a 4-0 win for the  Bulldogs in the tournament’s opening game.

But in the finale against Prairie Farm, the Panthers rocked Boyceville starter Micadin Kahl for nine runs on six walks and only two hits in just two-thirds of an inning.

Brady Nye provided two and a third innings of relief pitching, giving up  five hits and three earned runs. Cooper Boesl threw an inning and a third with one hit and one run.

Prairie Farm scored three more times in the first frame and went on to deliver a 13-3 knock out of Boyceville in five innings.

“James pitched an unbelievable game for us,” said Coach Roemhild of the Colfax contest.  “(It was) One of his most dominant. He allowed only one hit, walked one, and struck out ten.  The two base runners that he did allow on, he used his great pick off move to get them out.”

The contest with Prairie Farm was a far different story line.

“We won’t beat any teams when we give up 12 runs in the first inning,” noted Roemhild. “Especially when only three of those runs are earned.”

With Palmer in control of the Vikings in the opener, Boyceville needed to push just a couple of runs home to get the win.

And it did just that.

Micadin Kahl singled to lead off the Bulldogs first at bat in the bottom of the first and Jaden Reisimer followed with a walk. The pair both came home to score on a Colfax fielding error that gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead – all they would need for the victory.

The Vikings continued to aid the Bulldogs’ offense as Boyceville added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings for the 4-0 win.

Cooper Boesl walked with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and scored on another Viking error.

Then in the fifth, Jason Gonzales opened the frame with a single and eventually scored on a passed ball.

Kahl, Boesl, Boda and Gonazles singled to account for all four Boyceville hits.

After Prairie Farm had polished off Colfax by ten runs in the second game, the Panthers did likewise to the Bulldogs in the third and final game of the tourney.

The Panthers lit up the Bulldogs for 12, first-inning runs on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon and went on to the 13-3 win.

All three Boyceville runs as well as it’s three hits came in the top of the fifth.

Kahl reached on an error to open the inning. Reisimer and Palmer followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Luke Knudtson flew out to center and Kyle Holden grounded out to the Panther pitcher.

But Kahl stole home and Reisimer and Palmer followed suit on a single from Boesl. Gonzales grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the frame, Prairie Farm scored a run to end the game.   

BOYCEVILLE 4, COLFAX 0
Colfax…………………0  0  0  0  0  0  0 — 0
Boyceville……………2  0  0  1  1  0  0 — 4

PRAIRIE FARM 13, BOYCEVILLE 3
Boyceville………………..0    0  0  0  3 — 3
Colfax…………………….12  0  0  0  1  — 13