Early runs lead Bulldogs to season sweep of Hilltoppers on the baseball diamond

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GLENWOOD CITY — Several early-inning runs propelled the Bulldog baseball team to an 8-3 victory and season sweep over the rival Hilltoppers in a conference game played in Glenwood City last Thursday, May 9.

Boyceville got to Glenwood City starting pitcher Steven Booth early, collecting three hits and four runs before the senior left the mound after just an inning of work.

Booth’s relief, senior Peyton Theune, did not fare much better against the ravenous pack of Bulldog hitters, who knocked out four hits and plated four more runs during Theune’s two innings on the mound to build an early 8-0 advantage.

“We did exactly what we wanted to do, jump on Glenwood right away so we could settle in on defense and pitching,” stated Boyceville head coach Michael Roemhild.

And that is just what the Bulldogs did especially their starting pitcher Devin Halama who got quite comfortable throwing the ball. The senior had a shutout going through five innings until Glenwood City scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Halama pitched into the seventh inning, recording the first two outs and the victory before giving way to sophomore Landyn Leslie who ended the contest with a strikeout to give Boyceville the season sweep of Glenwood City.

The Bulldogs won the teams’ first meeting back on April 15 by a score of 11-1.

“Our goal was for Devin to go the distance and he was one out away from doing that for us,” noted Roemhild.

Boyceville finished with just two more hits than host Glenwood City, nine hits to seven, but the Hilltoppers were unable to string them together to score runs for much of the game despite four errors by the Boyceville.

Junior Blake Fayerweather took over pitching for the Hilltoppers in the fourth inning and did not allow another Boyceville run as he surrendered just two hits and struck out six. But, by then, the Bulldogs had scored all that they would need.

With one out in the top of the first, senior Nick Olson drew the first of his four walks. Sophomore teammate Carson Roemhild followed with a double that brought Olson home with Boyceville’s and the game’s first score. Halama then reached base on a Glenwood City error. Senior Zach Kersten grounded out to third but Roemhild was able to score on the play to make it 2-0 in the Bulldogs’ favor. Paul Kurschner followed with a single and stole second. Halama and Kurschner both scored when Wyatt Sell knocked a hit to right field to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.

Boyceville made it 6-0 in the second when Braden Roemhild and Nick Olson were both issued walks and came in to score on a Halama single.

In the third, Sell reached on a fielder’ choice and took third when Owen Rydel doubled two batters later. With two outs, Braden Roemhild sent a hit to deep right center field that allowed both Sell and Rydel to touch home for an 8-0 Bulldogs’ advantage.

The score stayed unchanged until the bottom of the sixth when Glenwood City was finally able to drive in a few runs. Steven Booth opened that frame with a base hit and then stole second. He went to third two batters later when Brody Riba reached on a Bulldog error. Booth eventually scored the Toppers’ first run and Riba stole home to cut the GC deficit to 8-2. Brock Wood got a base hit, stole second and eventually scored on another error to make it 8-3.

That is how its ended as neither squad scored in the seventh.

“After the fourth inning, I thought we played on cruise control which I was not a fan of,” stated Coach Roemhild.

“Glenwood City tried to put together a comeback, but Devin held strong and Landyn came in to close the game out,” he added.

Halama earned the mound victory as he struck out nine Toppers and did not allow a walk in six and two-thirds innings. Booth suffered the loss for Glenwood City after allowing four runs on four hits and walking four with two Ks in just an inning on the mound.

Halama helped his cause with three hits and a pair of RBIs. Wyatt Sell also finished with three hits in as many at bats and a pair of RBIs. Owen Rydel had two hits including a double and Carson Roemhild finished with double.

Peyton Theune and Brock Wood each had two hits for the Toppers. One of Theune’s went for a double.

Prior to their Thursday meeting in Glenwood City, both the Bulldogs and Hilltoppers played conference contests on Monday, May 6. Boyceville came from behind to defeat Durand-Arkansaw 10-9 at home while Glenwood City fell 10-2 on the road in Spring Valley.

Boyceville also played a Friday, May 10 contest in Mondovi and were beaten by the Buffs 6-5 in eight innings.

Boyceville 10, Durand-Arkansaw 9  

A pair of seniors shined as Boyceville rallied from a five-run deficit at home versus Durand-Arkansaw Monday, May 6 to pull out a 10-9 walk-off win.

Trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Nick Olson smashed a two-run home run to knot the game. Boyceville eventually took a 9-8 lead when Zach Kersten doubled to score Devin Halama.

The Panthers, however, knotted the game in the top of the seventh.

Then in the bottom of the seventh, Braden Roemhild cracked a one-out double that scored Zach Hellendrung for the 10-9 walk-off win. Braden Roemhild also stole a pair of bases in the game to become the Bulldogs’ all-time leader in that category with a career tally of 72 at that time. He surpassed previous record holder Jake Riek’s mark of 70 which had stood for over two decades.

“It was special to be able to share that with him as a coach and uncle,” said Coach Michael Roemhild. “He has fought his way back from a hamstring injury from the start of the year. I can’t think of someone more deserving.”

The aforementioned heroics were needed after the Bulldogs came out flat to start the game and trailed the Panthers 5-0 after the first inning of action.

The Bulldogs finally scored a run in the third, added a pair in the fourth and fifth frames, tallied four scores in the sixth and the game-winning run in the seventh.

Boyceville finished with ten hits which included four extra base raps. Braden Roemhild topped the hitting chart with a 3-for-4 effort which included a double and he scored twice. Olson had the 2-run dinger, Halama added two hits with a double and Kersten also had a two-bagger.

Carson Roemhild threw five innings on the mound to get the win. He allowed four runs on three hits, struck out ten and walked four. Landyn Leslie also threw a pair of innings for Boyceville and surrendered five runs on four hits, walked five and had two Ks.

Mondovi 6, Boyceville 5

Boyceville found itself in a close battle when it traveled to Mondovi last Friday, May 10 to take on the Buffaloes in a battle for second place in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference standings.

Both teams scored two runs in the first inning. The Bulldogs went in front, 3-2, thanks to a second-inning score. But, the Buffaloes tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth.

It remained a 3-3 contest through the end of seven prompting extra innings.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the eighth but the Buffs plated three runs in the bottom half to take the 6-5 win.

Both teams collected seven hits in the game.

Carson Roemhild had a pair of hits including a double to lead Boyceville. Devin Halama also doubled for his lone hit of the contest.

Landyn Leslie took the throwing loss. He allowed three runs on four hits and had seven strikeouts with a walk in four innings on the mound. Carson Roemhild threw three and two-thirds and gave up two hits for three runs with five Ks and four walks.

Spring Valley 10, Glenwood City 2

The Cardinals scored early and often when they hosted the Hilltoppers in a conference baseball game May 6.

Spring Valley scored twice in the first inning and four times in the second and third. Glenwood City had single scores in the first and third innings. Neither team scored in the final four innings.

Brody Riba, Steven Booth, Peyton Theune, Blake Fayerweather, Brock Wood, and Andrew Blaser each had a single to account for Glenwood City’s six hits in the game.

Peyton Theune started pitching and went two inning to take the loss. The senior allowed six runs on six hits , with four Ks and three walks. Blake Fayerweather tossed the final four innings giving up four runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two free passes.