Cavs defeat Riders 3-1

COLDWATER - Coldwater took care of another team from the WBL (St. Marys) with a 3-1 win on Monday at Veterans Field.

Now it's time for the Cavaliers to take care of business in the MAC.

Malave Bettinger drove in two runs, Kraig Schoenherr pitched four solid innings and Jack Hemmelgarn was flawless in relief, as the Cavaliers defeated the Roughriders two days after having handed their WBL-mate, Bath, a 1-0 loss at the Vet.

Not long after the game, Coldwater received news that MAC-leading Versailles had been dealt its first league loss by Fort Recovery, which means the Cavs control their own destiny to earn at least a share of the league crown.

Coldwater was outhit by St. Marys 5-3 in Monday's game. But the Cavs made the most of their chances and the Roughriders did not.

Kyle McKibben opened the bottom of the first with a single. Aaron Harlamert bunted on the next at-bat and pitcher Chase Roop fielded the ball and then fired it over the head of first baseman Austin Hollandsworth. McKibben scored on the play and Harlamert advanced to third. Bettinger scored Harlamert with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

The Roughriders stranded the bases loaded in the third. It was a sign of things to come from St. Marys, which stranded eight runners in the game.

The Cavs added a run in the bottom of the third. Bettinger's RBI single plated Chris Post for Coldwater's final run.

St. Marys (7-9) had runners in scoring position with no outs in the fourth. Austin Cook lined out to second for the first out. Julius Fisher followed with a soft liner to third baseman Nathan Grunden, who snow-coned the catch and stepped on third to double up the runner on third.

The Roughriders loaded the bases in the fifth with a walk to Austin Wilker, a hit by Nathan Wilker and an error. Hemmelgarn replaced Schoenherr four batters into the fifth. Dustin Howell's 4-6 fielder's choice scored Austin Wilker to put St. Marys on the board, but Hemmelgarn forced Roop to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to keep the damage minimal.

"We've had a number of games where we leave guys on base or we don't come up with that big hit when we need it," St. Marys coach Jeff Dieringer said. "It's been a story of leaving guys on base. That's been our detriment."

Hemmelgarn had back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh for his fourth save of the year. He threw just 26 pitches in three innings and helped Schoenherr (2-0) earn his second career varsity pitching win.

"This is Kraig Schoenherr's second start this year and both times he's thrown four plus innings, almost five," Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert said. "What Kraig does is throw strikes. He pounds the zone.

"Jack Hemmelgarn has been that way all year," he added. "He's now 5-1 with four saves. He's been in about 10 games for us and he does just that - gets guys in front, gets guys out, wins and moves on."

Roop allowed two earned runs while striking out three and walking one over six innings.

"We're really a different team when Chase is on the mound," Dieringer said. "I think our focus is better. I think our bats are better. His stuff has really been the best of anybody we've had up to this point. I like our chances when he's on the mound for us."

The Roughriders have a big week ahead beginning today against Defiance and then traveling to face Grand Lake rival Celina on Thursday.

"If we're going to be playing our best ball, those are the teams to be facing," Dieringer said. "I think we'll rise to the challenge."

Top-ranked in Division III, the Cavs (17-3) get back to business tonight against Minster at home before traveling to New Knoxville on Thursday. Their final MAC game is on May 10 at home with St. Henry.

"We're just trying to enjoy this season with our six or seven seniors," coach Harlamert said. "We're just about having some fun, playing with energy and playing good baseball. If we do that, the MAC is still in line for us, but we've got to play three good games."