ARGYLE – The #3-seeded Argyle Orioles banged out 14 hits en route to a 12-3 victory over the #6-seeded Belmont Braves in a WIAA Division 4 baseball playoff game at Veterans Park on Thursday, May 25.
    Brent Ritschard, Cameron Truethardt, Gavin Johnson and Travis Dammen each drove in two runs to lead the Orioles over the Braves (2-19 overall).
    A RBI-ground out by Brady Wedig gave Belmont a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, however the Orioles answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to grab the lead from the Braves.
    A sacrifice fly by Colin Austin evened the game at 2-2 in the top of the second inning, but Argyle struck back with five runs in the home-half of the third inning to regain the lead for good.
    Belmont cut the deficit to 7-3 on Tyler Ernst run-scoring fielder’s choice. The Orioles tacked on four insurance runs in the fifth frame and one in the sixth to put the game away.
    “(Argyle) hit the ball well against us. They capitalized on a few mistakes we made, but overall our guys played hard and fought well,” noted Belmont head coach Trevor Kattre.  
    Johnson went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored for the Orioles. Treuthardt went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI and pitcher Mitch Flannery helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
    Jake Amenda (1-6) gave up 11 runs on 11 hits and recorded eight strikeouts over four and two-thirds innings and he had a double at the plate. Ethan James went 2-for 3 with a run for the Braves.
    Playing in their final game for Belmont on Thursday were seniors Dylan Runde, Tyler Ernst and Simon Rossard.
    “These guys have been around the baseball program since they were in little league. I appreciate them so much for their dedication to our baseball program, and wish them the best of luck to all in their future endeavors,” commented Kattre.
    At Monticello, on Tuesday, May 23, the Braves wrapped up the regular season by falling to the Ponies, 13-1, in their Six Rivers’ finale.
    Colin Austin doubled and scored the lone run for Belmont (2-13 SRC).

WIAA D4 REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL
Belmont… 110  010  0 –   3    6  2
Argyle…… 205  041  x – 12  12  3
Leading Hitters: Belmont– Ethan James 2x3. 2B- Jacob Amenda. Argyle– Mitch Flannery 2x3, Cameron Truethardt 2x4, Gavin Johnson 4x4. 2B- Flannery, Truethardt, Johnson.
WP- Flannery. LP- Amenda.
At Argyle, on Thursday, May 25
 
Belmont…… 000  01 –   1  2  3
Monticello… 063  4x – 13  8  3
Leading hitters: 2B- Colin Austin.
WP- NA. LP- Ethan James.
At Monticello, on Tuesday, May 23