Bluejays enjoying the view

Athens alone at top of the North

It’s been a bit of a bumpy start to the 2021 season for the Athens Bluejays, but first year head coach Todd Diethelm will be the first to tell you, it’s not the start that matters but the end.

“We have a lot of first year kids playing, and I’ve been saying we have two freshmen classes because the sophomores didn’t get to play last year,” Todd said after the ‘Jays loss to Abby/Colby. “I like how we battled. That’s going to pay dividends down the road.”

Athens has seen its share of ups and downs, but they’ve righted the ship midway through the season, and have won three of their last five games, including a pair of conference wins that has them sitting first in the Marawood - North.

The ‘Jays took some lumps on Tuesday, playing against an experienced Abbotsford/ Colby co-op that was riding a four game winning streak.

Athens took an early lead with one run at the top of the first, and twice had bases loaded, but double-plays by Abby/ Colby, and some unlucky hops on ground balls resulted in a 7-3 loss for the ‘Jays.

Diethelm was left to lament over missed chances. For he and Athens it was the same old story - great pitching, lackluster offense.

“We’re not putting the bat on the ball and that’s what we need to work on - just get a bat on the ball, some way, somehow. Put pressure on a defense and hopefully good happens. I like our approach better tonight, but we have a long way to go.”

The ‘Jays would take what they learned from Tuesday and applied it two days later, getting a slice of revenge over Abby/Colby with a 5-1 victory at home. It was a game dominated by pitching, with the ‘Jays Dayne Diethelm showing off his mastery on the mound.

“We rebounded well on Thursday,” Todd said. “Very proud of how the team responded to the challenge and came out and played a complete game.”

Dayne fanned seven batters and allowed just walks and gave up zero earned runs. With Diethelm doing his job on the mound, the ‘Jays offense woke up in the bottom of the sixth for three runs.

Cooper Diedrich batted 1.000, going three for three on Thursday, which included a double. Kyler Ellenbecker got a double, and Cobie Ellenbecker recorded two hits, both singles.

Things would not get any easier for Athens as they played their third game in five days. The ‘Jays were on the road in Stratford, and the Tigers squeaked out a 5-4 victory.

Once again, it was a single inning that got away from Athens that proved the difference maker. The Tigers and ‘Jays were tied 1-1 at the top of the third before Stratford rattled off four runs in the bottom of the same inning.

Athens fought back in the fifth, adding three runs to pull within a single run, but the Tigers were able to hold the ‘Jays scoreless in the final two innings.

It was a frustrating game for Athens, who out-hit the Tigers 13-7. Cooper Diedrich and Dayne Diethelm got the bats singing with three hits apiece. Jake Denzine and Cobie Ellenbecker each picked up a pair of singles.

Diedrich took the loss at the mound, striking out two batters and allowing just one earned run.

There would be no such issues with hitting and scoring on Monday, May 17, as the ‘Jays torched Cadott to the tune of a 22-2 non-conference win.

“We pitched pretty well, threw a lot of strikes and got some of our younger guys some at bats,” coach Diethelm said. “We are starting to do the little things better and our improvements are showing.”

Athens took the sting out of the Hornets right from the get-go, racing out to a 4-0 lead after one inning. The subsequent three innings saw five, six and seven runs light up the scoreboard.

Diedrich’s swinging led the way with a double. Brooks Kraus, Connor Sheahan, Kyler and Cobie Ellenbecker, Jake Denzine, Gary Peel and Damien Haines all recorded one hit, all singles.

Haines, Peel, Denzine and Kyler Ellenbecker had two RBIs apiece. Nathan Wolf recorded a team high four runs scored.

The ‘Jays regained control of the Marawood - North on Tuesday, dropping the Phillips Loggers at Veterans Memorial Field on Tuesday, May 18.

Athens scored five runs in the opening stanza to set the tone, then added four more runs in the top of the fifth for a 9-1 lead. The Loggers responded in the sixth with five runs, but it was too little too late as Athens won their third game in five matches by a score of 12-6.

Diedrich, Kyle and Cobie Ellenbecker, and Denzine all had two hits as the ‘Jays finished with 11 total. Dayne got the win on the mound, striking out seven in 4-1/3 inning and added a triple.