Toppers’ sluggers drop game in Durand; earn first win against Elmwood-Plum City
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By Amber Hayden
Since the start of the baseball season, the Hilltoppers had yet to find a formula to earn a win, including a loss to Durand early last week. But, the pinstripe crew combined a strong defense and some timely offense to earn its first victory of the 2019 campaign, an April 18 triumph over Elmwood/Plum City.
The Toppers began last week with a Monday, April 15 Dunn-St. Croix road game in Durand. The contest, which was originally slated to be held in Glenwood City, had to be shifted south to the Panthers home field and resulted in a 7-1 Toppers’ setback as they took their third conference loss of the season.
The second game of the week for Glenwood City was also moved from home to Plum City High School after the field was still soaked with water. But unlike their previous road trip, the Hilltoppers game against the Wolves proved to be fruitful as they earned their first win of the season by a score of 7-1.
The Hilltoppers, currently 1-3 in conference and overall, competed against D-SC foe Boyceville Bulldogs yesterday, April 23, in the first of their two meetings this season. Glenwood City will return home for a pair of games against Mondovi this Thursday, April 25, and the Pepin/Alma Eagles on Friday, April 26. The Toppers will then be in Clayton next Monday, April 29 for a non-conference game.
Durand
The Hilltoppers season hasn’t exactly been picture perfect in the few times they have been out on the field including last Monday’s game against the Durand Panthers that resulted in a 7-1 loss.
Topper’s pitcher Gavin Janson, who pitched through five innings, gave Glenwood City an opportunity to win in the April 15 baseball game. The sophomore had four strike outs and only one walk counted against him along with six hits and four earned runs.
“I thought Gavin pitched a very good game. We have really focused on limiting our walks and throwing strikes this year,” said coach Strong. “He is giving us a chance to play defense and make plays.”
Hadin DeSmith threw a scoreless inning for the Toppers and Bryce Fayerweather gave up earned runs in his time on the mound.
Glenwood City, unfortunately, could managed just four hits and one run against the Panthers’ pitching.
Senior Tanner Davis was the only Topper to score a run during the seven-inning game. Davis had a hit and two strikeouts in his three appearances for Glenwood City.
“We were in a close two-run game with them in the later innings when we had to take Gavin out,” Strong explained. “We had opportunities to knock in some runs, but we didn’t execute at the plate.”
Bryce Fayerweather, Daniel Loring and Hadin DeSmith also registered hits against the Panthers.
“We struck out eleven times and you can’t expect to win with that lack of production at the plate, our defense played pretty well for us all night.” Strong stated.
GLENWOOD CITY 1, DURAND 7
Glenwood City…..……0 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 1
Durand.….….…..…….0 0 0 0 0 0 7 – 7
Glenwood City (1)
AB-H-R: Bryce Wickman 2-0-0, Gavin Janson 3-0-0, Tanner Davis 3-1-1, Mitchell Bliese 1-0-0, Hadin DeSmith 3-1-0, Brady McCarthy 2-0-0, Daniel Loring 3-1-0, Bryce Fayerweather 3-1-0, Cole Logghe 2-0-0, Thomas Moede 1-0-0, Owen Nerby 3-0-0. Total 23-4-1.
Pitching:
Glenwood City—Gavin Janson, 5 IP, 6 H, 4 K, 1 BB 4 R (4 earned), Bryce Fayerweather, 0 IP, 0 H, 0 K, 2 BB, 3 R (3 earned), Hadin DeSmith 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB, 0 R.
Elmwood/Plum City
The Glenwood City defense was a solid last Thursday in Plum City as they came through in a couple of jams to keep Elmwood/Plum City from scoring any runs on the way to a 7-1 victory over the still winless Wolves.
It was Glenwood City’s first win of the season.
“Hadin DeSmith pitched a very good game,” said coach Strong. “He was able to go all seven, which really helps us for pitch count.”
DeSmith threw strikes and changed speeds in order to keep the Wolves hitters off balance while giving up only one earned run. DeSmith was also great at the plate for the Toppers gaining three hits and three stolen bases as well as scoring three runs.
Senior Tanner Davis was two-of-four at the plate for Glenwood City and had one run credited to him to give him an on base percentage of .500.
The Hilltoppers finished with 11 hits.
“I thought our kids really stayed focus throughout the game,” Strong explained. “We have had a tendency to give up a big inning in our previous games that would put us in a hole the remainder of the game.”
Daniel Loring was the only Hilltopper to bring in an RBI against Elmwood/Plum City off of a single hit as he went one-of-three at the plate.
Also scoring a run for Glenwood City were Gavin Janson and Brady McCarthy. Both also had singles as did Bryce Fayerweather, Cole Logghe and Brandyn Hallquist.
GLENWOOD CITY 7, E/PC 1
Glenwood City…..……2 0 2 1 1 0 1 – 7
EPC…..….….…..…….0 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 1
Glenwood City (7)
AB-H-R: Bryce Wickman 2-0-0, Gavin Janson 3-1-1, Tanner Davis 4-2-1, Mitchell Bliese 0-0-0, Hadin DeSmith 4-3-3, Brady McCarthy 3-1-1, Daniel Loring 3-1-0, Brandyn Hallquist 2-1-0, Bryce Fayerweather 3-1-0, Cole Logghe 1-1-0, Drew Olson 1-0-0. Total 26-11-7.
Pitching:
Glenwood City — Hadin DeSmith 7 IP, 0 H, 0 K, 0 BB, 1 R (1 earned).