Streak lives on

ST. MARYS - Coldwater baseball coach Brian Harlamert felt his team wasn't playing with its usual fervor through the first 6 1/2 innings.

The momentum gained from the bottom of the seventh carried over into the top half of the eighth as the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 15 straight with a 5-2 victory in eight innings over St. Marys at K.C. Geiger Park.

"We talked after the game that it wasn't Coldwater baseball for the first 6 1/2 innings," said Harlamert. "Lucky for us we got a win."

Coldwater (15-3) nearly had its streak snapped after St. Marys loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Will Broering came on in relief of Grant Meyer, who allowed two hits and the tying run that made the score 2-2 in the fifth. St. Marys' Derek Fisher singled to left to start the inning. Carson Fischbach laid down a perfect bunt in front of the plate that catcher Austin Riethman could not pick up to put runners at first and second. Broering was then called for a balk, moving the runners to second and third. Harlamert decided to walk Henry Spencer to load the bases for Kurt Bubp. The Roughriders set up for a squeeze, but the Cavaliers caught on and ran down Fisher for the first out as the other runners moved up 90 feet. Bubp was then walked to load the bases for Trey Fisher, who popped to second for the second out. Dylan Trogdlon followed with a liner to center that Zack McKibben snagged to end the threat.

"We found a way in the seventh to get out of a huge jam," said Harlamert. "Then we showed some life at the end."

"We had the guys we wanted up," said St. Marys skipper Adam Graves. "Unfortunately, it didn't work out. Dylan hit a great ball, but it was right at (McKibben)"

In the eighth, Jacob Wenning popped to second and Noah Miller flew out to center for two quick outs against reliever Kurt Bubp. Jake Hemmelgarn kept the inning going by being hit by a pitch. After Hemmelgarn stole second, Broering helped his cause with an RBI single. After Cole Frilling walked, Josh Hrycko cleared the bases with a single to give the Cavaliers a 5-2 lead.

Broering closed out the game with two strikeouts and a fly ball to right.

"It was a good game. Both teams played well. I thought we hit the ball well," said Graves. "We took ourselves out of some innings with some bad baserunning here and there. "

The starting pitching was solid for both teams. Ross Weigel went the first four for Coldwater, allowing six hits and a run with no strikeouts.

"That was Ross' first start of the year after coming back from injury. He gave us four solid innings," said Harlamert. "Grant gave us two and he'll throw again Friday. Will comes in, gets strikes and gets guys out."

Braedon Trogdlon went five for St. Marys, scattering three hits and three walks in allowing two Cavalier runs.

"Braedon had a tough outing a week or so ago. He bounced back and pitched really well," said Graves. "Same thing with Kurt. His curve ball was really good."

Hrycko was the only Cavalier with a multi-hit game in going 2 for 3. Dylan Trogdlon was 3 for 4 for St. Marys (6-11).

Both teams are in action today. Coldwater hosts Marion Local in MAC play while St. Marys welcomes cross-lake rival Celina for WBL play.