Bulldogs batter Toppers in regional baseball opener

by Samuel Ripp

BOYCEVILLE — The location changed but the result didn’t.

Just three days after Boyceville traveled to Glenwood City and thumped the Hilltoppers 14-4 in the May 23 conference and regular season finale, the Bulldogs’ baseball team upended the visiting Hilltoppers again.

Behind the strong pitching performance of senior Hunter Anderson and a seven-run first inning, Boyceville scored an 8-1 win over Glenwood City in the WIAA Division 3 regional opener it hosted Thursday, May 26 at Evenson Field.

Fourth-seeded Boyceville, 9-8, advanced to face top-seed Elk Mound in yesterday’s regional semifinal game played on the Mounders’ home field. The winner will continue on to the regional championship to be played today (Wednesday, June 1).

The Bulldogs split the regular-season series with the Mounders as each won on the other’s home field. Elk Mound took a 14-0 win way back on April 11 while Boyceville exacted revenge with a 1-0 road win on May 5.

The loss brought Glenwood City’s 2016 baseball campaign to an end as it finished 3-16.

Anderson pitched lights out for Boyceville and was one out away from a no-hitter in the ball game. Anderson allowed one run which was unearned on one hit. He walked seven batters and struck out 13 Toppers in his final home appearance of his high school career.

Glenwood City did not have the same luck on the mound as they went through three pitchers in the game. Joel Ormson started the game, but only lasted two thirds of the first inning. Ormson allowed seven runs with four being earned on four hits and three walks. Senior Damian Hoitomt checked in to finish the inning and he went three and two-thirds innings. He allowed one run on five hits while issuing two walks and striking out three. Nick Schone came in for the remainder of the game allowing one hit while striking out two.

The Bulldogs got off to a really hot start by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and then just cruised the rest of the way for the win.

Boyceville batted around in that decisive first inning as its hitters showed great patience at the plate. Anderson helped his own cause as he picked up two his inning while Luke Knudtson doubled and Max Engel singled.

After the first inning, it was a quiet game with both teams unable to get anything going in the game.

The Bulldogs finally struck for one more in the fifth inning when Bryce Boda lead off with a hit and scored on freshman Jaden Reismer’s RBI single.

Glenwood City finally scored in the top of the seventh inning after one of its batters was hit by a pitch to start the inning. The Toppers had runners in scoring position after an error. Anderson was one out away from a no-hitter before Nick Schone drove one into right center field for an RBI single. Anderson struck out the next Glenwood City batter to end the game.

Boyceville collected ten hits. Hunter Anderson, James Palmer, Luke Knudtson (one for a double) and Maxwell Engel each finished with two hits, while Jaden Reisimer and Bryce Boda both singled.

Collecting RBIs for the Bulldogs were Luke Knudtson with two, Maxwell Engel and Hunter Anderson.

The lone hit for Glenwood City came from Nick Schone with one out remaining in the game which also drove in a run as the Toppers avoided the shut out.

Head Coach Micheal Roemhild was very pleased with his team’s performance on the afternoon and to play at least one more game. Roemhild was happy the way his pitching came through.

“Hunter pitched a great game for his last home game ever, a really dominate performance and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Roemhild after the win.

“We are hoping to have good pitching, play error-free ball and have good at bats,” said Roemhild about the upcoming game at Elk Mound.