Kenyon-Wanamingo Baseball Sweeps Goodhue

The Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights won both games of a doubleheader on a rainy evening in Goodhue today.  Scores were 6-5 in the first game and 6-3 in the second contest.  The first game was broadcast on KDHL Radio.  In the first game, which was the game counted in the Hiawatha Valley League standings the Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and added three more runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead in the five inning affair.  Goodhue fought back to tie the game with 5 runs in the bottom of the second and Kenyon-Wanamingo manufactured the winning run in the top of the fifth.

Senior Jack Beulke pitched for the Knights and threw 89 pitches, 50 strikes, 3 strikeouts, 4 walks and a hit batter.  Goodhue tallied 5 hits and Kenyon-Wanamingo 6 hits in the game.  Junior Carson Morken went the distance for Goodhue throwing 94 pitches, 53 strikes, fanned 3 and walked 5.  One of the Milo Peterson Ford keys for the Knights was the fact they got the first batter on base four of the five innings and scored that person three times.  The Wildcats had the first batter on base twice in the game.

Tyler Craig smacked a fly ball over the head of the left fielder for a double to start the game on a 1-0 count.  Following a ground out advancing Craig to third base the freshman third baseman scored on a wild pitch thrown during the Micah Johnson at bat.  The junior catcher connected on a 2-0 pitch hitting the ball over the right fielders head and up against the fence for a stand up triple.  The second out was recorded via a strikeout and freshman left handed batter Owen Hilke poked a pitch thrown on the outside corner to left field scoring Johnson.  The count was 0-2.  There was a walk and the inning ended on a strikeout of the number 7 hitter in the Knights order.

In the bottom of the first it looked like Goodhue was going to answer right away.  Junior second baseman Carter Danielson led their half inning off with a infield single and the second batter sophomore center fielder Ethan Schafer walked on four pitches.  Beulke then got a strikeout, fly out and ground out to end the inning with no runs scored by the Wildcats.

In the top of the second number 8 Knight hitter sophomore left fielder Cole Flom jumped on the first pitch for a single to left field.  Junior second baseman Colin Sviggum walked and during the at bat Flom went to second base on a wild pitch.  There was an error allowing Craig to get on base and during his at bat Sviggum scored on a passed ball.  Beulke stayed out of the double play and another run scored before Johnson got an RBI on a ground out.  Number four hitter sophomore shortstop Garrett Grove was walked and was thrown out trying to steal second base.

In the bottom of the second inning Goodhue sent nine batters to the plate and scored 5 runs to tie the game.  The first two Wildcats reached on walks before Morken singled to load the bases.  Number nine hitter senior right fielder Garrett Huneke collected an RBI with a bases loaded walk.  Danielson smacked a 1-1 pitch to center scoring two runs.  After two outs senior first baseman Ryan Schoenfelder hit an RBI single to tie the game.  The next batter flew out to end the inning.

Kenyon-Wanamingo number three hitter Micah Johnson singled to left field to start the fifth inning.  Grove walked.  Hilke laid down a bunt to advance the runners and Johnson scored on a ground out off the bat of sophomore center fielder Tate Erlandson.

In the bottom of the fifth senior catcher Casey Ryan cracked a one out single and the game ended on a 4-6-3 double play turned by the Knights.

Our Held Bus Service Knights of the game were Beulke, Johnson and Hilke.

In game two the Wildcats were the visitors and led the game off with a single off the bat of Danielson.  Schafer put down a perfect bunt for a base hit and there were runners at second with no outs.  Following a strike out Schoenfelder hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI and Goodhue had a 1-0 lead against freshman left handed Knight pitcher Hilke.

Goodhue starter, lefty Ethan Schafer, walked catcher Craig on five pitches before second baseman Beulke hit a single to right.  Johnson followed with a sacrifice fly RBI and it was a tie game.

Hilke had three strikeouts and a walk in the top of the second and the Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the inning all after two outs were recorded.  Number nine hitter, designated hitter, Colin Sviggum was safe on an error.  Craig was walked and Beulke had a RBI single.  That would have been the only run scored in the inning but just before Johnson clubbed a two RBI single Goodhue had an error on a little pop up in foul territory and Johnson made them pay.

The Wildcats did answer in the top of the third with a 8 batter inning, scoring two runs.  Danielson started with a single and was wild pitched to second base.  Schafer walked and a wild pitch advanced both runners.  Following a strikeout Schoenfelder was walked to load the bases.  Ryan had a RBI single and junior Carson Benda had a RBI on a groundout.

Kenyon-Wanamingo added a run in the third inning after they started their half with back to back walks junior right fielder Seth Brossard was asked to bunt and advance the runners and did which allowed Flom to hit a towering fly ball to left scoring Hilke from third base.

The Knights added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Beulke led the inning off with a double and was bunted over to third by Johnson.  Grove connected for an RBI single to complete the sweep for Kenyon-Wanamingo.

Hilke threw 107 pitches and the maximum number of pitches allowed is 105, but you are allowed to finish the batter you are pitching to when you hit 105.  Hilke was lifted in the top of the fifth inning after striking out the first two batters.  Sviggum came in relief and walked the first guy he faced before getting a pop up on the infield to end the game.  Hilke threw 78 strikes and had 10 strikeouts, 4 walks, allowed 4 hits in the five innings.

Goodhue's Schafer threw 96 pitches in four innings with 50 strikes, 3 strikeouts, 7 walks, 5 hits allowed.

The Wildcats had three errors in my scorebook and the Knights one miscue.

Beulke was 3 for 3 in the second game with a double and two singles and scored 2 of the Knights 6 runs.  Craig scored two runs while walking twice at the top of the order.  Johnson had 3 RBI and a sacrifice.

Goodhue's first batter, Danielson was on base all three times he was up with two runs scored and a couple singles.  Schafer scored the other run, had an RBI single and a nice sacrifice bunt for the Wildcats.

The Knights game scheduled for Tuesday in Waterville was cancelled because Waterville-Elysian-Morristown's game Monday in the conference go rained out and they are making that up Tuesday.

The Knight fastpitch team is in Byron and Roy Koenig will have the game on KDHL beginning 3:45 p.m.  The game was moved up to a 4:00 p.m. first pitch due to a band concert in Byron.