Post Messenger Recorder -

On Saturday, May 16, the Belleville baseball team was shut out in game one of a doubleheader against Marshall, 7-0.

Drew Shrader pitched all seven innings for the Wildcats, striking out one and walking four while giving up eight hits and six earned runs.

Offensively, Belleville was led by Jesse NcNamar going three for four; Nicholas Richter was one for four; and Kevin Zimmerman was one for four.

“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively in this one,” Head Coach Jon Benash explained. “They took advantage of some things on offense and exploited some of our weaknesses; that’s what a first place team does. They’re on top of the division for a reason.”

The Wildcats managed to score a run in game two, losing 11-1.

John Gorski pitched the loss for Belleville going four innings and an out. He struck out five and walked four while giving up eight hits and nine runs – seven were earned runs. Scott Schwoegler took over the rest of the way where he gave up two earned runs on two hits.

At the plate, Richter was one for three; Zimmerman was one for three with a run; Gorski was two for three with a double and one RBI; Jacob Hackman was one for two; Cody McMillan was two for two; and Spencer Doyle was one for two.

“Again, we can’t give good times like this four or five outs in an inning because they will make you pay for it,” Benash explained. “We hit the ball better in this one but only managed one run. Our base running remains a work in progress, but we have to be able to string more hits together and force the defense to make plays.”

On Thursday, May 14, Belleville lost a close game to Wisconsin Heights on the road, 10-9.

“We just came up a little bit short in this one, but we’re very proud of the way that everyone stepped up and responded in the seventh inning! Defensively, we just dug too deep of a hole to climb out of,” Benash stated. “Our pitching can’t issue that many free passes; we have to make our opponents earn their way on. Seven walks and five hit batters makes it pretty difficult on everyone.”

On the mound, McMillan pitched the first four innings and one out, giving up four hits, four runs, and four earned runs; he walked four and struck out one. Schwoegler then took over where he gave up one hit, one run, and one earned run while walking two.

Cash Hoffman pitched the last inning and two outs: he walked one and gave up one earned run.

On the offensive side, Richter was two for three with two runs, a double, and three RBI; McNamar had a run; Zimmerman was one for three with a run and one RBI; Gorski was two for four with a run, a double, and three RBI; Hoffman had a run; Hackman was two for four with one run; Schwoegler was one for three with a run; and Jacob Bowers was one for one with a run.

At home on Tuesday, May 12, the Wildcats were defeated by Waterloo, 6-0.

Gorski pitched six innings, walking four and striking out eight while giving up four runs – all earned – on eight hits. Schwoegler took over from there, giving up two runs – one earned – on two hits; he struck out and walked one.

“We just didn’t put the ball in play the way that we need to. Anytime we did hit the ball, their defense made some great plays to keep us off the base paths,” Benash elaborated.

Offensively, Richter was one for two, and Shrader was one for three.