LANCASTER – The Flying Arrows of Lancaster and the Timberwolves of River Ridge opened up the 2016 baseball schedule with a non-conference meeting last Thursday night at Terwilliger Field at Lancaster High School.
The host Arrows pounded out 13 hits in the season opener and used a six-run rally in the fourth inning to send River Ridge home with a 10-3 loss.
Coach Troy Marshall’s squad put up the first run of the game, when senior Dylan Hazen scored in the first inning on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Tyler Millin.
The Flying Arrows then answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second when junior Mack Mundy scored on an RBI single by senior Nic Wood, who later scored on an RBI single from sophomore Jordan Reuter.
In the top of the third, River Ridge regained the lead when senior Preston Clark scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Ben Ertz, and Hazen was driven in on an RBI single from Millin.
Lancaster took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth when they used five hits and two River Ridge errors to score six runs and take an 8-3 advantage.
In the fourth, Quinten Kreul and John Wagner each had RBI single, while Evan Straka had an RBI double. Larry Moore picked up an RBI on a ground ball that was mishandled by the River Ridge shortstop.
Then, for good measure, the Flying Arrows scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, where Jordan Reuter and Larry Moore each had RBI singles.
Leading Lancaster at the plate was sophomore Jordan Reuter, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Larry Moore went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBIs, while Nic Wood was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.
The Timberwolves were led by Hazen, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, while Ben Ertz and Tyler Millin each had one hit.
Picking up the win on the mound was Lancaster junior Drew Reuter, who in three innings of work gave up no earned runs and no hits, while striking out two batters and walking none.
Fellow junior Tanner Reuter started on the mound for the Flying Arrows, and in three innings of work gave up three earned runs off four hits, while striking out two batters and walking one.
Moore pitched one inning for Lancaster, where he struck out one batter and did not allow a hit or a run.
“Before the game we talked about the pitchers throwing strikes and letting the defense make plays,” said Lancaster head coach Rick Place. “Tanner, Drew and Larry threw seven strong innings, giving up four hits, striking out five batters and only walking one.”
The loss went to River Ridge senior Dylan Hazen, who in three innings surrendered five earned runs off seven hits, while striking out three batters and walking two.
Ben Ertz started on the mound for the Timberwolves, and in three innings game up five earned runs off six hits, while striking out one batter and walking three.
For first-year head coach Rick Place, his Flying Arrows gave him reason to smile and think that good things may be coming for this team.
Lancaster 10, River Ridge 3
(from Thursday, April 7)
River Ridge 102 000 0 - 3 4 3
Lancaster 020 620 x - 10 13 1
Leading hitters - RR: Hazen 2x3; L: Jordan Reuter 3x4, Larry Moore 2x4, Nic Wood 2x3. 2B - Jordan Reuter (L), Evan Straka (L). W - Drew Reuter (3IN,0H,0ER,2K,0BB). L - Hazen (3IN,7H,5ER,3K,2BB). Other pitchers - RR: Ben Ertz (3IN,6H,5ER,1K,3BB); L: Tanner Reuter (3IN,4H,3ER,2K,1BB), Larry Moore (1IN,0H,0ER,1K,0BB).
Fennimore 8, River Ridge 1
(from Saturday, April 9)
Fennimore 400 210 1 - 8 8 1
River Ridge 100 000 0 - 1 5 6
Leading hitters - F: Henkel 3x4; RR: Dylan Hazen 3x4. 2B - Henkel (F). W - Andrews (3IN,1ER,4K). L - Blake Crubel (2IN,4ER,2K,1BB).
Fennimore 8, Lancaster 5
(from Monday, April 11)
Lancaster 101 021 0 - 5 8 3
Fennimore 310 301 x - 8 10 3
Leading hitters - L: Jordan Reuter 2x3, John Wagner 2x3, Mack Mundy 2x3; F: Williams 3x4, Neoroth 2x4. 2B - Jordan Reuter (L), Wagner (L), Williams 2 (F), Henkel (F). 3B - . HR - Wagner (L), Williams (F). W - Henkel (5IN,5H,2ER,10K,1BB). L - Drew Reuter (3IN,6H,2ER,2K,0BB). Other pitchers - L: Larry Moore (3IN,4H,1ER,7K,1BB); F: Andrews (2IN,3H,2ER,4K,0BB).
