"It's gut-check time for us," he said. "We won three of four games last weekend in Mitchell (S.D.), so it's not that we aren't playing well. But we didn't come in here very mentally sharp. Our ...success is dictated by what happens on the mound, and our starter struggled tonight." In addition to Myles Arehart and Mike Rios, Norfolk used Sean Wetterberg, who threw the final two innings. He didn't go unscathed either as he gave up a two-run homer to Michael Blatchford in the sixth inning -- Columbus' 46th hit to leave the park. Blatchford's blast gave the Seniors a 15-0 lead and was the final touch on a 3-for-3 performance. -- Leading Hitters: Norfolk-Jake Hunke 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Reid Lancaster 1-for-3, HR, RBI; Myles Arehart 1-for-2, 2B, RBI. Columbus-Derek Evasco 4-for-4, 2 RBIs; Michael Blatchford 3-for-3, HR, 3 runs 2 RBIs; Wade Fleischacker 2-for-3, 2 runs; Josh Van Dyke 2-for-3, 3B, 4 RBIs; Taylor Sansoni 1-for-4, 3 RBIs; Michael Novicki 3 runs; Kurt Farmer 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBIs.
"As SDA celebrates its 80th anniversary, it is very fitting that we present our Distinguished Service Award to Ted Brenner. He is someone who contributed largely to SDA's reputation for excellence ...and leadership in technical, scientific and regulatory affairs," said Ernie Rosenberg, SDA President and CEO. The Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Product and Oleochemical Industries(SM), representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.
"We could easily be 3-1 right now in this tournament," Gale Bly said. "The only game we were really out of was the Millard West game, and that was a close game for the first five innings. We have ...played some good competition but we haven't gotten the key hits. When we did get the key hits, we didn't pitch very well. Early in the year, we got a break or two, and now the breaks are going against us. That's the way baseball is. Maybe tomorrow we'll catch a break." EUR Leading Hitters: Columbus-Dillon Haferland 3-for-4, 2 2Bs, 3 RBIs; Paul Hansen 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Alex Scheffler, 1- for-2, HR, run; Fremont-Gates Cook 3-for-4, 3 2Bs, 4 RBIs; Derek Ruiz 3-for-4, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs, 3 runs. EUR Leading Hitters: Columbus-Wade Fleischacker 2-for-2, run; Kurt Farmer 2-for-2, RBI, run; Taylor Sansoni 1-for-3, HR, run; LNS- Jacob Hiatt 1-for-3, 2B, RBI; Nate Wilder 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBIs.
So when the Columbus Senior Bank catcher laid down a suicide squeeze bunt on Alex Paczkowski's first pitch, it caught Hastings and everyone else at Pawnee Park Field who doesn't know Columbus' signs ...off guard. After cruising through the first three innings, Michael Blatchford ran into trouble in the fourth inning as he began the frame by issuing three straight walks. Luke Deyke came in, but each of the five Norfolk batters he face reached base. Josh Van Dyke eventually got the Seniors out of the inning, but not before Norfolk scored six runs on five walks, three hits and one Columbus error. -- Leading Hitters: Hastings-Mitch Krull 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Luke Goedert 3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs. Columbus-Paul Hansen 3-for-4, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs, 3 runs; Derek Evasco 2-for-2, RBI; Darrick Ramaekers 1- for-2, 2B, RBI.
"The kids just did a nice job of focusing and keeping the ball in play in the last inning," Columbus coach Gale Bly said. "During the game, we hit the ball pretty hard several times but we couldn't ...get any runs out of them. It was nice to see them make some plays off of what I believe was (North Platte's) first error in the two games. It was a nice win and the kids deserve it." "That was a great play by Taylor Sansoni," Bly said. "He's been steady, and I have a lot of confidence in him. He's a quality kid that steps up and makes plays like that one right there." "I thought Paul Hansen was a lot more at ease tonight then he was the other night against O'Neill," Bly said. "I thought that was one of his better performances tonight. He really didn't give them a scoring chance until the final inning."
