Bulldogs beat Durand, Pepin/Alma; shut out in Elk Mound
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STOPPING MID-SWING— Brendan Sempf was able to stop his swing just in time so he wouldn’t have a strike called against him in Friday evening’s, May 3, game against Elk Mound. —photo by Amber Hayden
By Amber Hayden
The Boyceville Bulldogs’ baseball team learned one thing this past week – don’t overlook any team.
After beating Durand and Pepin/Alma at home earlier in the week, the Bulldogs traveled to Elk Mound last Friday, May 3 to face the Mounders for the first time this season. Elk Mound pitcher Blaze Todd took a 3-0 shut out to snap the Bulldogs’ nine-game win streak.
It was just the Bulldogs’ second loss in conference and of the season. Fortunately, Spring Valley also lost that same day, dropping a 5-4 decision to Mondovi. Both the Bulldogs and Cardinals remained tied atop the Dunn-St. Croix standings with 9-2 marks.
The first game of the week, April 29, was a home game against the Durand Panthers and had the Bulldogs holding their breath before pulling out a 5-3 win after securing the lead in the fifth inning. Durand had jumped out to an early lead on Boyceville, but Walker Retz and Trevor Hollister combined to register 14 strike outs.
On Thursday evening, May 2, the Bulldogs traveled to Pepin to take on the Pepin/Alma Eagles and walked away with a 14-0 win.
The Bulldogs began a busy week of play on Monday evening, May 6, in Grantsburg and then will face Elmwood/Plum City on Thursday, May 9. Boyceville will welcome Spring Valley to the diamond this Friday, May 10, and will round out the week with games at Glenwood City and home against Elk Mound next Monday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 14 respectively.
Durand
Last Monday’s home game was a nail biter for the Boyceville Bulldogs as they gave up three runs in the first two innings to the Durand Panthers and trailed 3-2.
But in the fifth inning, things heated up as Walker Retz singled to Panther’s third baseman Preston Milliren allowing Trett Joles to score from second base. Joles also scored a run in the first inning for Boyceville and was one-of-two at the plate.
Walker Retz then scored after an error by Durand’s Chase Brunkow. Trevor Hollister also scored in the fifth inning after stealing second and third base, then made it home on an error from catcher Joey Biesterveld
The Bulldogs’ three-run fifth allowed them to escape with the 5-3 victory.
In the first inning, Brendan Sempf scored off a ground ball that was hit to Durand’s short stop which in turn allowed Retz to reach first on a throwing error.
Trevor Hollister, who started for the Bulldogs and went three innings, and Walker Retz combined to throw a one-hitter. Retz picked up the win as he did not give up a hit or run to the Panthers in four innings of relief work and stuck out nine. Hollister sat down five Durand hitters but surrendered the Panthers’ lone hit and all three of their runs.
BOYCEVILLE 5, DURAND 3
Boyceville….….….……..2 0 0 0 3 0 X – 5
Durand….….…..…..……1 2 0 0 0 0 0 – 3
Boyceville (5) AB-H-R: Brendan Sempf 4-1-1, Trett Joles 2-1-2, Walker Retz 4-1-1, Trevor Hollister 4-1-1, Connor Sempf 2-1-0, Jaden Reisimer 2-0-0, Brady Nye 3-0-0, Nick Litomsky 1-0-0, Jacob Granley 1-0-0, Logan Knudtson 3-1-0. Total 26-6-5.
Durand (3) AB-H-R: Christian O’Keefe 3-0-2, Preston Milliren 3-1-0, Isaiah Whitwam 3-0-0, Joey Biesterveld 3-0-0, Blaine Bauer 1-0-0, Zach Schlosser 1-0-0, Chase Brunkow 3-0-0, Parker Traun 3-0-0, Braden King 2-0-1, Ethan Fie 2-0-0, Gunnar Hurlburt 1-0-0. Total 25-1-3.
Pitching: Boyceville — Trevor Hollister 3 IP, 1 H, 5 K, 3 BB, 3 R (0 earned), Walker Retz 4 IP, 0 H, 9 K, 1 BB, 0 R; Durand
— Christian O’Keefe 4 IP, 5 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 5 R (4 earned), Isaiah Whitwam 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 1 BB, 0 R.
Pepin/Alma
After a sloppy game against Durand, the Bulldogs came back to the field on Thursday evening, May 2, and shut out the Pepin/Alma Eagles 14-0.
TRYING FOR THE OUT— Left fielder Nick Litomsky takes a step to throw the ball to first base for the out against the Mounders. —photo by Amber Hayden
“I was looking for a big game to get some guys their confidence back,” coach Roemhild explained. “Our defense played great, we were solid from first to third.”
Connor Sempf pitched all five innings for the Bulldogs giving up a mere two hits while striking out seven batters. Sempf had a big knock in the top of the third and was able to get on base and stole second before being brought in on a hit from Nick Litomsky.
Scoring three times for Boyceville was Jaden Reisimer and Nick Litomsky. Reisimer was one-of-three with an RBI and walk while Litomsky was two-of-four with a double and two RBIs.
Brendan Sempf and Walker Retz also had two hits for the Bulldogs, who tallied a dozen in all. Retz three RBIs and Sempf had two. Logan Knudtson and Jaden Reisimer also had doubles for Boyceville.
“Overall it was a great game, we are a tough team when we can put everything together in a game,” Roemhild said.
BOYCEVILLE 14, PEPIN/ALMA 0
Boyceville….….….…………0 3 6 2 3 – 14
Pepin/Alma.…..…..…………0 0 0 0 0 – 0
Boyceville (14) AB-H-R: Brendan Sempf 3-1-1, Trett Joles 2-0-1, Walker Retz 4-2-0, Trevor Hollister 4-1-1, Connor Sempf 4-1-1, Jaden Reisimer 3-1-3, Brady Nye 2-0-2, Nick Litomsky 4-2-3, Eric Loback 1-1-0. Total 29-10-14.
Pepin/Alma (0) AB-H-R: Dawson Alme 1-0-0, Roman Engstrand 2-0-0, Lane Wieczorek 2-1-0, Thomas Milton 3-0-0, Ethan Brecka 1-0-0, Jordan Pearson 2-1-0, Colton Brecka 2-0-0, Tyler Hanson 2-0-0, Sam Erickson 1-0-0, Schuyler Vaicius 1-0-0. Total 17-2-0.
Pitching: Boyceville — Connor Sempf 5 IP, 2 H, 7 K, 4 BB, 0 R; Pepin/Alma — Roman Engstrand 3 IP, 6 H, 1 K, 3 BB, 9 R (7 earned), Thomas Milton 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 K, 1 BB, 4 R (3 earned), Lane Wieczorek 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 K, 0 BB, 1 R (0 earned).
Elk Mound
The Bulldogs were in Elk Mound on Friday evening, May 3, and with how things have been lately for Boyceville a win should have been in the cards for them.
But that was not the case as Elk Mound jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first and would play tough defense to take the win from the Bulldogs 3-0.
“It is a tough game to win when the other team out pitches you, plays better defense and out hits you,” said coach Roemhild. “That is exactly what happened to us.”
Jaden Reisimer and Walker Retz each had two hits against Elk Mound’s pitcher Blaze Todd, and Jacob Granley would be the only other Bulldog to get a hit against the Mounders.
Retz was on the mound for Boyceville but went only three and one-third innings after giving up four walks and two runs. Retz threw 42 strikes against the Mounders but finished with four strike outs.
“Not much to say about this game, besides you can’t take any team lightly,” explained Roemhild. “We need to come out and play as if every game is a playoff game. It’s win or go home.”
ELK MOUND 3, BOYCEVILLE 0
Boyceville.….….….……0 0 0 0 0 0 0– 0
Elk Mound….….…..…..1 1 0 0 1 0 0 – 3
Boyceville (3) AB-H-R: Brendan Sempf 2-0-0, Trett Joles 3-0-0, Walker Retz 3-2-0, Trevor Hollister 3-0-0, Connor Sempf 3-0-0, Jaden Reisimer 3-2-0, Jacob Granley 3-1-0, Nick Litomsky 2-0-0, Ira Bialzik 1-0-0, Logan Knudtson 3-0-0. Total 26-5-0.
Elk Mound (3) AB-H-R: Chase Rhude 2-0-0, Andrew Williams 0-0-1, Ryan Bohl 3-1-0, Nate Lew 4-1-1, James Javanovich 3-1-1, Cole Steinhorst 1-0-0, Brett Lew 2-0-0, Blaze Todd 3-0-0, Ethan Kaanta 4-1-0, Cole Baskin 3-1-0. Total 25-5-3.
Pitching: Boyceville — Walker Retz 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 K, 4 BB, 2 R (1 earned), Trevor Hollister 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 K, 0 BB, 1 R (1 earned); Elk Mound — Blaze Todd 7 IP, 5 H, 4 K, 0 BB, 0 R.