Roughriders win pitchers' duel

ROCKFORD - Another game, another solid pitching outing for St. Marys.

Parkway also had solid pitching.

The Roughriders led early only to have Parkway send the game to extras, where an RBI single by Logan Hale brought home the winning run in a 4-3 Grand Lake baseball battle at Don Black Field in Rockford.

St. Marys' Ty Kiehl and Parkway's Dylan Hughes came up with solid efforts, but Kiehl took a no-decision and Hughes took a tough-luck loss.

"Ty did a great job getting us into the seventh inning," said St. Marys coach Adam Graves. "He got ahead and got outs when we needed them."

"He pitched fantastic. Couldn't ask for more," said Parkway coach Luke Clouse. "He was throwing a heavy ball. I went out and caught him between innings and the ball smacked when it hit the glove."

St. Marys took advantage of a rough fielding inning from Parkway in the second as Joey Caldwell reached on an error to start the inning and went to second when Hale bunted and reached first with no one covering. Kiehl followed with a bunt to move the runners to second and third for Andrew Ibrahim, who grounded to third, but the throw to first was wild, bringing both runners home to make it 2-0 Roughriders.

"We bunted the ball well and put some pressure on them," said Graves. "We put ourselves in position with a hit here and there to get the run in."

After that, Hughes allowed another run in the third before keeping the
Roughriders scoreless for the rest of regulation.

Kiehl relied on his defense to help keep the Panthers off the base paths. Parkway got its first run in the third when Roman Leszinske scored on a Hughes' double.

Kiehl started the bottom of the seventh, but was relieved by Calvin Caywood when Aiden Anderson led off with a single. Caywood enticed Riley Samples to ground out to third for the first out before hitting Hughes. Caywood then walked Justan Felver to load the bases for Brock Baltzell, who had struck out in his previous two at-bats. Baltzell connected with a single to right that brought home two runs to tie the game. Caywood then got Chaz Neuenschwander to ground into a double play.

Hughes gave up a double to Brandon Trogdlon to start the top of the eighth. Caldwell bunted the runner to third, allowing Hale to single in the go-ahead run. Alex Anderson came on to relieve Hughes and got two straight strikeouts to end the inning.

Hale, who had been the designated hitter, came on to pitch the bottom of the seventh, striking out the first two batters before issuing a walk to Leszinske. Hale closed out by getting Aiden Anderson to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game.

"We put Calvin in a tough spot, but he'll grow from this and he'll be fine next time he comes in," said Graves. "Logan did a great job. He's coming off arm surgery in December so he's seen little mound time."

"We like to see some fight in the boys," said Clouse. "Brock got off the (slump) with the big hit there. We got guys on and put ourselves into a good opportunity. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get it done."

Both teams return to action today. St. Marys hosts Lima Central Catholic and Parkway treks northeast to face Spencerville.