MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (April 22–29)
SWC BASEBALL: Prairie du Chien 4, River Valley 3 (9 innings)
By Derick Kelly, Courier Press
PdC wins third-straight extra inning game
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — The Prairie du Chien Blackhawks Baseball team extended its winning streak to three with their third straight extra innings win last Friday when they defeated conference rival River Valley 4–3 in nine innings.
River Valley was the first team to get on the scoreboard when they grabbed a 1–0 lead in the first inning but it wouldn’t last too long as the Hawks answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning. A two-out passed ball scored Abe Amundson, who had doubled to left field to start off the inning. Neither team could muster any runs over the course of the next five innings with offense at a premium on the cold and dreary evening.
The visiting Blackhawks managed to score twice with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to grab a 3–1 lead. A lead off walk to Bryce Lenzendorf was followed by a single to left field by Jack Simmons. Amundson grounded out to move the runners over to second and third with one out for Deacon Chesebro who singled to center field to score Lenzendorf and make the score 3–2. Two pitches later, River Valley threw the ball away after trying to throw out Chesebro at first base allowing Simmons to score from third to tie the game up 3-3. The visitors recovered from the error to retire the next two batters as the game moved to the ninth inning.
The Hawks worked out of a jam in the top of the ninth that included back-to-back walks to start the inning before a double play by PdC shortstop Drake Chesebro and a caught stealing at second base sent the game to the bottom of the ninth still tied 3-3. A one-out walk by Drake Chesebro brought up Westin Marx, who proceeded to double to left field to put the winning run at third base with only one out. River Valley then intentionally walked Bryce Lenzendorf to bring up Simmons who was then struck out for the second out of the inning. Up stepped Amundson and on the second pitch of the at-bat, he delivered a fly ball to the the outfield that the center field made a play on only for the ball to go in and out of his glove, allowing Drake Chesebro to score and give Prairie du Chien a 4–3 walk-off victory.
The Hawks were led at the plate by Amundson (3-for-5 with a double, one run scored and one RBI), Deacon Chesebro (2-for-2 with a double, two walks and one RBI) and Marx (1-for-5 with a double). Amundson (two runs allowed on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings pitched) earned the win in relief of starter Bryce Lenzendorf, who allowed one run on just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Prairie du Chien also beat Cuba City 14–13 in eight inning back on April 14, then defeated Lancaster 11–10 in eight inning April 17.
Prairie du Chien improved to 3–4 overall and 2–1 in the SWC with the win, while River Valley dropped to 1–7 overall and 0–4 in the SWC with the loss. Next up for the Hawks was a non-conference game at Onalaska Luther last night before they return home tomorrow afternoon to host Dodgeville before traveling to West Salem this Friday afternoon.
