MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (July 5–12)
SUMMER BASEBALL: Platteville 7, Lancaster 2
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Boscobel Dial
MUMM, MERCHANTS DOMINATE LANCASTER
PLATTEVILLE — Platteville sophomore Trent Mumm picked up his third win in as many starts this summer with a dominating 7–2 victory over visiting Lancaster Friday night at Platteville’s Hill Field in Legion Park.
Mumm threw six strong innings, striking out eight Flying Arrows while not giving up a walk, and allowed just two runs on a two-run double by Nolan Wolf in the top of the fourth to lead Platteville’s U18 summer baseball team.
“Trent threw extremely well as he always does when on the mound,” said Platteville head coach Randy Knight. “His mound presence is probably the best I have seen from a young pitcher. He loves to compete and that’s what makes him successful.”
Infielders Lucas Ludlum and Davyn Edge hit back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Both came in to score when Zach McClain reached on a two-out error by Lancaster starting pitcher Logan Wolf to give the host Merchants an early 2–0 lead.
Platteville added to its lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Jesse Key ripped a one-out RBI double to plate Riley Donahoe, who reached on a fielder’s choice.
Key stole third on a ball in the dirt, then scored on a ground out to second base by McClain to extend the lead to 4–0.
Mumm (3–0) ran into his only real trouble in the top of the fourth when cousins Mitchell Wolf and Logan Wolf, and Lance Reuter loaded the bases with three straight singles to the outfield.
Mumm struck out the next Lancaster batter, but Nolan Wolf (Mitchell’s younger brother) doubled on a deep fly ball to right field.
But Mumm escaped further damage when Brady McCartney hit a hard liner to Ludlum at shortstop, who promptly doubled Reuter off third base for an inning-ending double play.
Platteville added a pair of insurance runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Derek Digman and a ground ball RBI single through the left side by Ludlum.
Jesse Key single, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth to account for Platteville’s final run.
Key finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ludlum finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored an a stolen base, and Davyn Edge (2-for-3) also had two hits for the Merchants, who improved to 6–2 on the summer with the victory.
“It was a good team win, the boys have grown so much over just a few short games,” added Knight.
“Swinging the bat has been the biggest success so far this summer. When we put the ball in play we are giving ourselves a better chance to compete and use our speed on the base paths.”
Platteville also had four stolen bases in Friday’s win.
The U18 Merchants will host Highland Wednesday at 6 p.m. before traveling to Pecatonica Friday evening.
Platteville 11, East Dubuque 4
(from Thursday, July 7 @ East Dubuque)
Platteville........204 14 — 11 10 3
East Dubuque..120 00 — 4 4 6
Leading hitters — P: Lucas Ludlum 3x3 (3R), Zach McClain 1x3 (2RBI), Cam Key 1x3 (2RBI), Jonah Vorwald 2x2 (R), T.J. Pink 1x2 (2R)
W — Keegan Coffey (1–0, 2H, 3R, 1ER, 2K, 2BB). L — #7 (3IP, 6H, 6R, 4ER, 1K, 3BB).
East Dubuque 6, Platteville 5
(from Thursday, July 7 @ East Dubuque)
Platteville.........122 xx — 5 7 1
East Dubuque..240 xx — 6 0 1
Leading hitters — P: Lucas Ludlum 2x2 (2R), Davyn Edge 1x2 (RBI), Riley Donahoe 1x2 (RBI), Keegan Coffey 1x1 (RBI). 2B — P: Edge, Ludlum.
W — #13 (3IP, 7H, 5R, 4ER, 1K, 0BB). L — Derek Digman (1–1, 1.2IP, 0H, 6R, 4R, 2K, 9BB).
Platteville 7, Lancaster 2
(from Friday, July 8 @ Platteville)
Lancaster....000 200 0 — 2 6 1
Platteville....202 211 0 — 7 11 0
Leading hitters — L: Mitchell Wolf 2x3 (R), Logan Wolf 2x3 (R), Nolan Wolf 1x3 (2RBI); P: Lucas Ludlum 2x3 (RBI, R), Davyn Edge 2x3 (R), Jesse Key 2x3 (2R), Derek Digman 1x2 (R). 2B — L: N. Wolf, L. Wolf; P: Cam Key, Digman, Jesse Key.
W — Trent Mumm (3–0, 6IP, 6H, 2ER, 8K, 0BB). L — Logan Wolf (3IP, 4H, 4R, 2ER, 4K, 2BB).
