MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Aug. 19–26)
BABE RUTH SUMMER BASEBALL: Platteville 5, Belleville 4 (9 innings)
PLATTEVILLE — The Platteville Merchants continued their extended summer season with a wild nine-inning victory over vistiting Belleville Saturday morning before falling to Dodgeville later in the day.
Platteville (10–14 overall, 3–3 in August fall season) battled back from a 4–2 deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend the game, then won it on a sacrifice bunt by Aiden Sparkman, that scored freshman Garrison Tashner from second base.
Belleville plated two runs in the top of the eighth against Platteville releiver John Drefcinski, but Platteville responded as incoming freshmen Cam Key (RBI groundout) and Carter Spensley (RBI single) drove in back-to-back runs to tie the game.
In the ninth, the game went to international tie-breaker rules with the last out starting the inning on second base to speed up the finish. Drefcinski (3–2) was able to get the first three Belleville batters to pop up for three quick outs.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tashner started on second base with Platteville leadoff hitter Aiden Sparkman coming up.
Coach Cody Grimsled gave Sparkman the bunt sign and Tashner the steal sign. Sparkman laid down a bunt about three feet down the first base line. Belleville completed the out at first base, but as Tashner rounded third he noticed no one covering home plate and the race was on.
The Belleville first baseman’s throw to the plate was delayed waiting for the catcher to retreat to the plate, and Tashner slid in safetly for the walkoff win.
“Wow, what a game. The boys showed up to hit today,” said Platteville coach Randy Knight, who looked on from the crowd. Cody Grimsled, Zach Dean, and Bryice Jerrett are coaching the team for the remainder of extended August season after Knight’s summer contact days ended Aug. 10.
“Aiden was on point on the mound but he eventually ran into pitch count in the seventh inning. John came on to get the final out with a big strikeout.”
Dodgeville defeated Belleville 4–0 in the second game of the three-team round robin, then blasted Platteville 21–11 in five innings in the final game of the day.
Senior Dylan Prestegard took the loss on the mound allowing nine runs, eight earned, on four hits and six walks, in two innings, but had a monster game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored.
Josh Banfield wend 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, by Drefcinski finished with 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Cam Key also drove in a pair or runs for Platteville.
“The bats were on fire, but our pitching struggled,” said Knight. “We hit the ball well and so did Dodgeville. Unfortaunently, our pitching struggled finding the zone.”
Platteville 5, Belleville 4
(from Saturday, Aug. 22 @ Platteville)
Belleville....000 101 020 — 4 9 0
Platteville..200 000 021 — 5 9 6
Platteville leading hitters — P: Aiden Sparkman 1x4 (RBI), Brendyn Edge 1x3, Adam Bird 2x4 (2 RBI), John Drefcinski 2x4, Garrison Tashner 2x4, Carter Spensley 1x1 (RBI).
W — John Drefcinsi (3–2, 2.1IP, 3H, 2R, 1ER, 1K, 0BB). L — not available.
Dodgeville 22, Platteville 11
(from Saturday, Aug. 22 @ Platteville)
Platteville.......202 25 — 11 15 6
Dodgeville...40(11) 24 — 21 12 3
Leading hitters — P: Dylan Prestegard 4x4 (2 RBI), Adam Bird 2x3 (RBI), John Drefcinski 2x4 (2 RBI), Logan Page 2x3 (3 RBI), Josh Banfield 2x3 (3 RBI); D: Ayden Halverson 3x5, Sean Reilly 2x3, Austin Montuage 2x4, Casey Weier 2x2. 2B — P: Prestegard, D: Montuage, Jayden Olson, Grant Roh.
W — Casey Weier (4IP, 10H, 6R, 3ER, 6K, 2BB). L — Dylan Prestegard (0–6, 2IP, 4H, 9R, 8ER, 1K, 6BB).
