(Glenwood) For the 2nd year in a row St. Albert eliminated CAM in a Class 1A Substate Final. This time around the Cougar baseball team put up quite a fight, but the Falcons scored three runs in the top of the 8th inning to advance with an 8-5 win.
CAM was down to their final out in the bottom of the 7th and trailing 5-2 when an incredible turn of events gave them new hope. A ground ball to the shortstop off the bat of lone senior Connor McKee appeared as if it would end CAM’s season, but he reached on an error. In stepped Lane Spieker who crushed a home run to to straightaway centerfield, closing the gap to 5-4. The very next batter, Colby Rich, drilled a solo shot down the left field line to tie the game at 5-5.
St. Albert didn’t dwell on their missed chance to close things out. The hard hitting Falcon offense got right back on the attack with two walks and three hits to reclaim the lead. Jaxson Lehnen walked, Jeff Miller singled, Colton Brennan dropped a sac bunt, Isaac Sherill pounded a two-run double, Cy Patterson was intentionally walked (for the third time on the night), and Brendan Monahan had an RBI single in the decisive top of the 8th inning.
In the bottom of the 8th with CAM down to their final three outs, the Cougars stared an 8-5 deficit in the face and had their 6th, 7th, and 8th hitters in the lineup due up. They managed just one walk in the final frame and bowed out with a 25-7 record.
St. Albert led for much of the way, but it was CAM that scored first. The Cougars led off the 2nd inning with a Cade Ticknor double and he scored on an error. St. Albert jumped in front with a three run 3rd inning. A hit batter and two walks loaded the bases. One run came in on a wild pitch while a Brett Klusman single plated two more. CAM closed within 3-2 when Lane Spieker reached on an error, Cade Ticknor singled, and Spieker scored on an error in the bottom of the 3rd. St. Albert’s lead was built to 5-2 when Isaac Sherill led off the 5th with a double followed by two walks to load the bases with no one out. Carter White bunted in a run and Lehnen posted an RBI single.
Sherrill posted three hits including two doubles and scored three runs. St. Albert drew eight walks in the win and had nine hits. CAM tallied five hits in the win. Spieker’s home run was his 12th of the season and Rich hit his 10th. Ticknor finished with a double and a single and Ethan Follmann registered a base hit. Eric Matthai pitched the 1 1/3 innings for the Falcons with one hit, one walk, and one earned run allowed. Jeff Miller played a huge role on the mound with his five innings of relief. Miller gave up four hits, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out three. Cy Patterson, who had only thrown one inning all year, got the final two outs with a pair of K’s. CAM used a combination of Cade Ticknor, Joe Kauffman, and Lane Spieker on the hill.
St. Albert takes a 32-8 record to Merchant’s Park in Carroll on Monday. It’s their 12th state tournament appearance in school history.
CAM coach Dan Daugherty:
