By Mark Ruschau
COLDWATER -- The Coldwater Cavalier baseball team continued its first week of the season strong as they won their third game of the week, cruising to a 10-0 run-rule win over the Fort Jennings Musketeers Friday afternoon at Veterans Field.
The win also marked the third straight run-rule shortened game for the Cavaliers.
Coldwater continued its high-octane offensive output but unlike the previous two games, the Cavaliers' offense came from small ball as they had just one extra-base hit.
The offense was sparked by the running game as the Cavaliers stole seven bases. Troy Siefring stole three bases and Ryan Gerlach added two to lead the way.
"We will take 10 runs any time, any way we can get them," commented Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert. "We played three games this week and we came out today a little stale. We didn't have our bats. I don't know whether it was the weather out here tonight or what but it definitely wasn't the offensive output of our first three games." "We talked about after the game that a win is win and that's all that really matters," continued Harlamert. "If we continue to score runs and win games we'll be all right."
Coldwater used its speed to score a pair of runs off Fort Jennings starter Joel Bruskotter in the opening inning.
Kyle Schoenherr walked to start the game and stole second. Siefring then legged out a base hit with Schoenherr taking third. Schoenherr scored the first the first run of the game as Bruskotter uncorked a wild pitch. Gerlach drove in the second run of the game as he reached on a fielder's choice as Bruskotter tried to get Siefring at home but his throw was late.
Coldwater blew the game open in the third as it put a four spot on the board. With one out, Siefring reached on an error and then stole second and third. After Chad Geier walked, Bruskotter uncorked another wild pitch, allowing Siefring to score and Geier to motor to third where he later scored on single by Gerlach to make the score 4-0.
After a groundout moved Gerlach to second, he moved to third on a passed ball. After another ground out, Dave Wenning walked and both Wenning and Gerlach scored on a double to right by Chad Miller.
The six runs were more then enough for Coldwater starting pitcher Gaston Pleiman. The tall and rangy 6-5 junior was solid as he posted the shutout, allowing the Musketeers just one hit in his first varsity start while striking out eight and walking just one.
"After he faced that first batter, he got his jitters out of the way and he threw strikes and got stronger as the game went on." said Harlamert. "Without question, we feel that he's one of our top three pitchers, he threw well tonight and we hope that continues."
Coldwater is back in action today as it travels to Elida to take on the Bulldogs in a doubleheader which is scheduled for a noon first pitch. |
