(Audubon) Joel Klocke fanned nine batters while Aiden Alt tossed two scoreless relief innings in Audubon’s 2-1 baseball win over Class 1A #5 Coon Rapids-Bayard on Wednesday. The Wheelers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed. The Wheelers won the game despite being outhit 5-1.
Braden Wessel’s big bunt in the 4th inning proved to be the difference. He and Eric Hermansen both executed when the Wheeler’s turned to small ball to reclaim the lead. CR-B had tied the game in the top of the 4th, but Audubon grabbed the advantage right back in the bottom of the inning. Gavin Smith and Joel Klocke were each hit by pitches to start the frame which gave Audubon runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs for Hermansen. Hermansen, a senior playing for the first time since his 8th grade year, sacrificed the two runners over. Coach Matt Wilder turned to the bunt once again and Braden Wessel brought in Smith from 3rd.
It was a tight, defensive battle the entire way. Audubon grabbed a first inning lead thanks to a pair of hit batters and a double steal. Skyler Schultes was hit by a pitch, stole 2nd, and advanced to third on a Marcus Olsen groundout. After Ethan Klocke was also hit by a pitch, the junior catcher took off for 2nd and got in a rundown. Coon Rapids-Bayard dropped the ball while trying to tag out E. Klocke and Schultes scored from 3rd.
A runner reaching on a dropped third strike is was led to the only run of the game for Coon Rapids-Bayard. The Crusaders tied it in the 4th inning at 1-1 Josh Ramirez came to the plate and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Quentin Culbertson’s courtesy runner Colby Culbertson scored the run while Preston McAlister and Kale Pevestorf each had hits in the inning.
Klocke’s strong start denied CR-B from pushing any runs across in the first three innings even though they had opportunities more often than not. In the 2nd inning runners were at 2nd and 3rd with one out when J. Klocke got back-to-back K’s to end the threat. He worked around a leadoff walk in the 3rd inning. Gabe Obert drew the free pass, stole 2nd, and moved to third with one out on a sac bunt by Peyton Clipperton. A strikeout and a groundout of the #2 and #3 hitters in the Crusader lineup put the Wheeler defense back in the dugout.
J. Klocke went five innings allowing three hits, one walk, and struck out nine batters. Aiden Alt tossed a scoreless 6th and 7th. He gave up two hits and one walk. A key play in the late stages of the game was E. Klocke catching Obert attempting to steal 2nd base after Obert was hit by a pitch to lead off the 7th inning.
Prestn McAlister, Kale Pevestorf, and Peyton Clipperton handled the pitching duties for the visitors. McAlister started the game and struck out four batters in two innings. Pevestorf takes the loss, but only allowed one hit in his 2 1/3 innings. Clipperton faced the final six batters, walking one and striking out five.
The win moves Audubon to 2-1 on the season ahead of a big one with Class 2A #5 Underwood on Thursday afternoon. Due to weather concerns the game has been moved up to a 2:00 varsity start with JV to follow. Coon Rapids-Bayard evens their record at 1-1 with upcoming games against Kuemper Catholic (Thursday), Exira-EHK (Friday), and CAM (Monday).
