Hornets topped by Macks in last bouts before playoffs

By Ginna Young

For their final games of the regular season, the Cadott baseball program faced off with McDonell, in back-toback West Cloverbelt Conference matches.

May 14 vs. McDonell conference (L 8-3)

It was off to McDonell for the first game of the series for the Hornets, with Cadott striking first, with a run in the opening inning and two more in the next. However, the Macks answered in their side of the second inning and with two runs in the third, to tie it at three all.

Neither team scored in the fifth inning and it was still deadlocked in the bottom of the sixth, when McDonell had four runs cross the plate. Cadott was unable to put any more runs on the board in the seventh and the Macks claimed the win, 8-3.

“…We just didn’t have it all clicking on all phases of the game and McDonnell took advantage of it,” said coach Brandon Geist.

Junior Warren Bowe was on the mound for Cadott, going five innings, while allowing 4 runs and 4 hits, and walking 4, but striking out 10 batters. Sophomore Aiden Rykal then took over, going an inning and giving up 5 hits and 4 runs.

Rykal also had 3 hits on the offensive side, with Bowe adding 2 and seniors Axel Tegels, Connor Roth and Nolan Nerdrum all chipping in with a hit.

May 16 vs. McDonell conference (L 14-7)

A couple days later, the Macks came to call on Cadott, taking a three-run in the opening innings, while holding the Hornets to a lone run in the second. McDonell snapped out four runs in the next inning, in answer, but the Hornets weren’t going down without a fight and brought in four runs in the bottom of the third.

McDonell added another three in the fourth inning, to make it 9-5, so Cadott knew a rally was in order, adding two runs in the fifth inning. The Macks weren’t done and had five more runs cross the plate in the following innings, while the Hornets were unable to add to their score, with the match going to McDonell, 14-7.

“We fell behind early and made a run, but we just didn’t have enough to get over the top and McDonell did a good job of extending the lead, to put us away,” said Geist.

Since it was senior night, Roth was at the helm going two innings, and giving up 3 hits and 6 runs, while striking out 5, before Rykal took over, pitching the remaining innings, and allowing 11 hits and 8 runs.

Bowe ended the night with 2 hits, and coming up with a hit each, were Tegels, Roth, Nordrum, Rykal and senior Braden Denzine.

Geist says he is thankful to the seniors on the team and that it shows a lot about the group who persevered through two different coaches in their high school careers. The Hornets finished the season at 6-11 overall and sat at 4-8 in the league.

It’s now time to turn their attention to playoff thoughts, as No. 9 seeded Cadott plays No. 8 Regis, at Carson Park in Eau Claire, May 23.

“We are not done yet, so keep working,” said Geist.