Abby/Colby Baseball wins three on extended road trip

The Abby-Colby Baseball co-op had a slew of games over the last week, starting off with a double header against Chequamegon and then following up with three non-conference games on the road. After their game on Monday, the coop boasts a solid 6-5 record as they head into the second half of their schedule.

11-1

The team started their successful week with a drubbing of conference rival Chequamegon in a double header at Red Arrow Park in Abbotsford on April 19. In the first game, the co-op took care of the Screaming Eagles in convincing fashion, walking away with a 11-1 victory.

Sophomore JV Castillo got the start on the mound for the co-op. He recorded six strikeouts while giving up four hits, one run and walking seven over five innings of work. Castillo also led off for the co-op as he recorded a hit in three at-bats, and an RBI.

Juniors Mateo Lopez and Brandon Diedrich, sophomores Nano Lopez, Evan Reis, Jaxon Polivka and Blake Bargender and freshman Payton Schreiber all recorded hits for the co-op.

Chequamegon, 13-0

In the second game of the double header, the co-op threw two pitchers at the Screaming Eagles en route to a 13-0 blowout of Chequamegon.

Mateo Lopez got the start for the co-op as he went three innings, giving up one hit and walking two while striking out three Chequamegon batters in the winning effort. Reis finished the game with two innings pitched, a strikeout and two hits allowed.

Castillo and Lopez each had multihit games as the co-op recorded 10 hits against Chequamegon pitching. Nano Lopez, Polivka and Bargender each had two walks in the team’s nine-walk effort.

Auburndale, 10-7

Looking to extend their winning streak, the Abby/Colby baseball team headed to Auburndale for a match-up with the Eagles on April 21, where they fell 10-7.

The co-op trotted out two pitchers against Auburndale. Brandon Diedrich covered most of the game, going 5 innings, striking out seven and giving up six runs on six hits. Senior Nick Olvera also took the mound, recording two outs and giving up only one hit but also surrendering four runs in his appearance.

The Abby/Colby lineup managed to score seven runs on five hits, with sophomore Carlos Lara bringing home two runs with a double. Diedrich, Bargender, Polivka and Noah Schraufnagel all contributed hits as well. The co-op took advantage of their speed on the basepaths, recording six stolen bases as a team, with Castillo leading the way with two of his own. Castillo and Jackson Snapp both scored two runs each.

8-1

On Friday, April 22, the co-op traveled to Stratford for a non-conference showdown with the Tigers where they lost, 8-1.

The co-op struck first, taking an early lead in the top of the first as they brought around Castillo to score. However, the Tigers answered right back, putting up two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

After the first inning both starting pitchers settled into a groove, neither allowing a run through the fifth frame. Mateo Lopez started for the co-op, only surrendering five hits and striking out two over 5 1/3 innings, keeping his team close through much of the game. Eventually, the Tigers’ offense managed to break through, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead before piling on five more in the sixth. The co-op was unable to respond, as a combination of Brady Schmidt, Henry Zaleski and Camden Daul for the Tigers kept the coop’s bats quiet for much of the evening, only giving up two hits over the entire game.

Castillo went one for two in his at-bats, stealing a base and scoring the only run for the co-op. Lopez recorded a hit as well and Lara was credited with an RBI.

Merrill, 11-8 in 8 innings

The Abby/Colby club looked to get back above .500 with a win on Monday, but they would have to do so on the road, traveling to Merrill for a showdown with the 5-1 Bluejays. The co-op would secure that win in comeback fashion in extra innings, with a final score of 11-8.

In a chilly game that saw a total of 22 walks between the two teams, both teams were held scoreless through the first two frames. The co-op was the first to strike in the top half of the third, putting up a crooked number by pushing four runners across the plate.

After being stifled by starting pitcher Nick Olvera and the co-op defense for three innings, Merrill’s offense came alive in the fourth, scoring three runs in the inning and tightening the gap 4-3. The co-op answered right back in the top of the fifth, scoring twice and increasing their lead 6-3. This lead was short lived, as the Bluejays tied the score in the bottom of the frame before adding two more in the sixth to go up 8-6. Heading into the seventh inning, the co-op was down to their final three outs and in need of a rally after giving up five runs unanswered. The Abby/Colby lineup responded, scoring two runs and forcing extras after Evan Reis, now pitching for the co-op, closed the door on a Merrill offense that had put up multiple runs in each of the three innings prior.

The co-op’s offense wasn’t finished yet, and in the first frame of extra innings, they brought home three runners, giving themselves a solid lead going into the bottom half of the inning. It turned out they only needed one of the three runs, as once again Merrill’s offense was shut down, leaving the visiting team victorious 11-8.

Reis pitched the final three innings of the game and was credited with the win. He struck out three, walked three, and gave up three hits. Both runs he surrendered were unearned. Olvera started the game for the away team and cruised through the first three innings of the game. He was pulled in the bottom of the fourth after surrendering one run on one hit and three walks for the game. He also struck out two. Payton Schreiber covered the middle innings for the co-op and struck out one while giving up five runs on six hits, four of which were earned.

The Abby/Colby lineup showed patience at the plate, walking a total of thirteen times in the game. Mateo Lopez and Schreiber both notched two hits a piece, with Lopez knocking in three runs. Polivka also had three RBIs for the co-op and recorded the team’s only extra base hit. Nano Lopez came around to score three times on three walks.