PATCH GROVE – The River Ridge varsity baseball team kicked off the 2018 season last week under first-year head coach Troy Dilley, who has eight starters back from last year’s team that includes four seniors and two juniors.
The Timberwolves opened their season last Tuesday night against visiting Seneca, and wound up on the short end of a 7-6 final.
Coach Dilley’s squad held a 3-1 lead after one inning of play, getting an RBI single from senior Ryan Redman, an RBI double by junior Blake Crubel and an RBI ground out by senior Gavin Steiber.
River Ridge’s lead didn’t last long though, as Seneca scored three runs in the second and third innings, giving them a 7-3 lead, which the Timberwolves could never overcome.
The Timberwolves did score one run in the bottom half of the sixth on an RBI single by Redman, and added two more unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh.
In all, River Ridge finished with four hits to Seneca’s five, while both teams committed just one error on defense.
Ryan Redman led the Timberwolves with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, that included two RBIs and one run scored, while Blake Crubel, Cole Crubel and Gavin Steiber each had one RBI in the loss.
On the mound, junior Brett Moravits took the loss, allowing two earned runs off two hits in 4.2 innings of work. He also struck out seven batters and walked six.
The Timberwolves followed up last Tuesday night’s season-opening loss with a 5-3 victory over visiting Wauzeka-Steuben the following Thursday evening in Patch Grove.
The Timberwolves drew first blood with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning on a two-run single by Cole Crubel to score Redman and Blake Crubel.
River Ridge added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on RBI doubles by Moravits and Blake Crubel, and a triple by Tyler Lansing, who later scored on an error.
Five runs was all the Timberwolves would need, as Wauzeka-Steuben did score one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth before being shut out in the seventh.
Of River Ridge’s seven hits, Moravits had two to go along with one RBI and one run scored, while Cole Crubel had two RBIs, and Connor Mumm and Blake Crubel each had one.
Blake Crubel picked up the win on the mound, allowing three earned runs off five hits in 5.1 innings of work. During that time he also struck out six batters and walked two.
Ryan Redman pitched 1.2 innings, giving up just one hit, while striking out one batter and walking none.
This past Monday night’s road game at Lancaster, and Tuesday night’s home game against Fennimore were both postponed due to poor weather. The Timberwolves are scheduled to host Barneveld in a double header this Friday night, and will then kick off conference play in the Six Rivers West at Potosi next Monday night.
Seneca 7, River Ridge 6
(from Tuesday, March 27)
Seneca 133 000 0 - 7 5 1
River Ridge 300 001 2 - 6 4 1
Leading hitters - S: Tyler Heinz 2x4; RR: Ryan Redman 2x3. 2B - S: Heinz 1; RR: Blake Crubel 1. W - Noah Allen (3IN,3H,3ER,3K,2BB). L - Brett Moravits (4.2IN,2H,2ER,7K,6BB). Other pitchers - S: Jared Payne (2IN,0H,1ER,1K,4BB), Kolton Chambers (2IN,1H,1ER,1K,3BB); RR: Tyler Lansing (1.1IN,3H,4ER,1K,4BB), Ryan Redman (1IN,0H,0ER,1K,1BB).
River Ridge 5, Wauzeka-Steuben 3
(from Thursday, March 29)
Wauzeka-Steuben 000 012 0 - 3 6 2
River Ridge 002 300 x - 5 7 1
Leading hitters - WS: Jake Reichmann 2x4; RR: Brett Moravits 2x4. 2B - RR: Blake Crubel 1, Brett Moravits 1. 3B - WS: Kaleb Marx 1; RR: Tyler Lansing 1. W - Blake Crubel (5.1IN,5H,3ER,6K,2BB). L - Carter Lomas (2.2IN,3H,2ER,3K,5BB). Other pitchers - WS: Jacob Bird (3.1IN,4H,0ER,2K,0BB); RR: Ryan Redman (1.2IN,1H,0ER,1K,0BB).
