Co-op gets big conference win over Rib Lake

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By Nathaniel Underwood

The Abbotsford/Colby baseball team showed some grit last Thursday, blowing out conference rival Rib Lake 11-3 after losing a close game to the Redmen two days prior, allowing them to tie things up at the top of the Marawood-North. They also picked up a road win over Spencer after falling to Edgar at home.

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Spencer, 14-0

AJ Brodhagen went 3-for-3, JV Castillo had a three RBI night and Evan Reis, Carlos Lara and Nano Lopez combined on the mound for a five-inning shutout of the Spencer Rockets on Monday night. A huge nine run first set the tone for Abby/Colby as they cruised to a 14-0 road win over the Rockets.

A one-out sacrifice fly by Reis got the coop on the board in the first inning, but the co-op was far from finished. They would go on to score eight more runs in the inning, all with two outs. A single from Lopez drove in two to make it 3-0 and Brodhagen’s first hit of the day drove in Lopez. After Brodhagen eventually scored on a passed ball, Castillo drove in two more runs on a double to center field. Castillo would also score on a ball that would get by the catcher and an error on the Spencer defense allowed a ninth run to score in what would be a game-determining opening frame for Abby/Colby.

Only four strikeouts were thrown between both teams, with Abby/Colby pitching accounting for three of them, but the co-op played solid defense behind their trio of pitchers. While two runners reached base against Reis in the first inning, Abby/ Colby was able to shut down the threat without any damage. Carlos Lara then came on and threw three innings of two hit ball, striking out two batters and eventually earning himself the win.

The co-op picked up four insurance runs in the top of the fourth after drawing five walks in the inning, three of which came with the bases loaded. Brodhagen’s second double of the game moved Reis over to third in the fifth and Koren Decker put his team up 14-0 with a single up the middle on the next at-bat. Abby/Colby finished with 10 hits and 10 walks while stealing eight bases in the win. In addition to Brodhagen’s two extra base hit, three steal night, Lopez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Blake Bargender went 1-for-3 while scoring two runs. Preston Bunkelman drew a walk in all four of his plate appearances.

Edgar, 9-6

Abby/Colby was dealt a tough 9-6 home loss by Edgar on Friday as Wildcat’s starting pitcher Jase Apfelbeck silenced the co-op’s bats for most of the afternoon.

The Marawood-North/South matchup was perhaps not as close as the final score may indicate. Through six innings, Edgar’s defense held Abby/Colby down as Apfelbeck scattered four hits and two walks while striking out eight co-op batters. The home team’s sole run during this stretch came in the third, when a two-out triple from JV Castillo was followed by Blake Bargender’s single, allowing Castillo to advance home.

While the game was still close at this point, with Edgar holding a 3-1 advantage at the end of the third frame, a crooked number

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in the top of the fourth for the Wildcats would shift the game firmly in their favor. Another three insurance runs in the sixth only increased the gap, but turned out to be wholly necessary for the visiting team.

Down 9-1, Abby/Colby rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring all five of their runs with two outs. After a run scored on an error and another on a walk, a single from Evan Reis drove in a third and kept the bases loaded. Another error by the Wildcats defense would result in two more runs coming across the plate, but the co-op’s luck would run out there still three runs short. While starting pitcher Payton Schreiber only allowed four hits and a walk in his three and a third innings, errors and four hit batsmen would result in six runs coming in for the Wildcats. Castillo came on in relief but ran into problems in the sixth, giving up three earned runs. He gave up three hits while walking three in his three and twothirds innings.

Preston Bunkelman and Reis both had two hits and Bargender went 1-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI in the loss. Bargender also was the only Abby/Colby player with a stolen base.

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Rib Lake, 11-3

The co-op’s bats came up big in what felt like a must win home game against Rib Lake last Thursday afternoon. After being held to just four hits in their loss to the Redmen just two days prior, the Abby/Colby lineup picked up nine hits and seven walks to score 11 runs in a blowout win over their conference rivals. The 11-3 victory for the hosting co-op had big repercussions for the top of the conference, as it kept open a path for the co-op’s pursuit of a fourth straight Marawood-North title, allowing both Abby/ Colby and Rib Lake to control their own destinies.

The 11 runs surrendered by Rib Lake is the most they have given up in a single game

See A/C BASEBALL/ Page 20

STEALING SECOND - AJ Brodhagen takes off towards second base during the co-op’s 11-3 win over conference foe Rib Lake last Thursday. Abby/Colby swiped a total of three bases in the victory. STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

PUMPING UP THE TEAM - Preston Bunkelman lets out a yell after making a catch in left field against the Redmen. The senior also had two hits against Edgar the next day.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

HELPING HIS OWN CAUSE - Evan Reis launches a triple to right field in the third inning Thursday afternoon. The hit plated two of the six runs Abby/Colby scored in the inning.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD A/C baseball

Continued from page 12

all season and the three runs they scored was the fewest they had put up at that point.

A huge third-inning for Abby/Colby helped the co-op deal the Redmen their first loss of 2024. Heading into the bottom half of the frame, the home team held a slim 4-2 advantage, but the complexion of the contest was about to change dramatically.

Two errors by the Redmen and a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position for JV Castilo, who knocked in one with a double to the outfield. A second run would score on a passed ball and a single from Blake Bargender plated Castillo. Evan Reis, who started on the mound for the co-op, helped his own cause by breaking through with a triple. The extra base hit drove in two more runs and set up perfectly for Nano Lopez, who came through with an RBI single to make it 10-2.

The six-run third gave Reis and the Abby/ Colby defense an eight-run cushion to work with, one that turned out to be more than enough for the defending conference champs. After running into some trouble in the first inning, surrendering a pair of runs on a two-out triple by Dominic Quednow, the Abby/Colby senior dominated the Rib Lake lineup. Striking out nine in four and two-thirds innings, Reis only gave up one unearned run after the first inning, giving the visitors no chance at a rally.

The co-op’s three run second inning was also an important response to the Redman’s early offense, especially with Abby/ Colby’s conference title hopes hanging in the balance. With the bases loaded, Payton Schreiber came through with the clutch hit, driving in the tying and go-ahead runs on a single to center field. Bargender then scored from third on a passed ball on the next at-bat, giving his team a two-run lead.

The top of the Abby/Colby lineup carried the offense on Thursday. Four players, Castillo, Bargender, Reis and Lopez, went 2-for-3 and Schreiber, Reis and Lopez all finished with two RBIs. Castillo scored three runs and the co-op finished with three stolen bases, with Lopez, Bargender and AJ Brodhagen all swiping one each.

Castillo came in to relieve Reis on the mound, striking out three without giving up a hit in his one and two-thirds innings worth of work. Carlos Lara finished off the game, striking out one of the three batters he faced.