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“I think we are as prepared physically and mentally as we can be. We’re excited and healthy,” he explained. “We were able to save our top three pitchers: Mike (Rahrig), Josh (Miller) and Craig (Carder); because of our depth there. Matt (Antalis - 1-0; 4 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned, 1 free pass, 4 Ks) threw a good four innings — which we asked him to do — and Aaron (Schuerman) mopped up for an inning. We wanted to have Matt’s arm healthy because he’ll be back in his usual spot in center (today).”
The Wildcats, who finish regular-season play at 16-4 and secured runner-up status in the NWC at 7-2, made sure this was not going to be a let-down game against the struggling Bulldogs (2-16, 0-9 NWC).
“Obviously, Ada is struggling but you also don’t want to get into any bad habits,” Montenery continued. “I felt we didn’t do that: we had a lot of quality at-bats, ran the bases well and played solid defense.”
Starting an all-senior lineup: Antalis, Miller, Rahrig, Schuerman, Cory Bastian, Sean Fisher, Ryan Kortokrax, Matt Gerdeman, Taylor Hesseling and Adam Wollenhaupt; they battered Ada pitcher Matt Flower (4 innings, 10 hits, 17 runs, 9 earned, 5 hit batters, 3 wild pitches, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts).
They got to him right away. In the bottom of the first, Bastian (2 walks, 3 runs) led off by getting aboard on a 2-base error on a fly to the outfield and scored as Fisher (3-for-3, 5 RBIs, 3 runs, 2 doubles, triple) lashed a double to center. After Miller was hit by a pitch, Kortokrax (3 runs) bounced out to the pitcher to move runners up. Schuerman (2-for-3, 6 runs batted in) grounded out to first to plate Fisher. With Miller at third, another 2-base error on a fly ball off the bat of Gerdeman scored him for a 3-0 lead.
The first of two double plays was turned by the Wildcats in frame number 2.
They tallied all the runs they needed in the second — lucky 7. They did so with four hits, two hit batters, two wild pitches, a walk, an error, a sacrifice fly and a passed ball. The big blow was a bases-clearing 3-run triple to left-center by Fisher. Also knocking in runs were Miller (double), Schuerman (sac fly), Hesseling (double) and a single by Wollenhaupt.
Ada got on board with two in the third courtesy of a 2-out, 2-base error on a fly ball by Joey Mattson, scoring Allen, and a wild pitch, plating Gray, for a 10-2 deficit.
Jefferson got to “lucky” number 13 with a 3 spot in the home half. Pinch-hitter Austin Clarkson led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch and a ground ball by pinch-hitter Nick Cook. Pinch-hitter Carder doubled to left and moved up on a passed ball. Kortokrax (hit twice) walked. Schuerman doubled to left when Beaschler tried to grab the sinking liner but missed and it got past him, scoring Carder; an error on the play got Kortokrax home and put Schuerman at third. However, he was left there.
Ada got within 10 in the fourth. With one down, Flower (2-for-2) got aboard on a wicked-hop single over second sacker Fisher. Austin Everhart singled. A wild pitch and ground ball by Gibson scored Flower but Everhart was stranded at third.
Jefferson made it a 14-run bulge in the home half. With one down, pinch-hitter Nik Moore was plunked. Bastian walked. Fisher’s double to deep right scored the former and put the latter at third. An out later, Kortokrax was hit by a pitch. Schuerman’s triple to left cleared the bases. He was left at third again when Gerdeman was robbed of a hit with a great leaping catch in center by Rock Weyer.
“We started all seniors today and it was a nice way to send them out on the winning end,” Montenery added. “They have done a lot for me over the last four years. We went 12-1 at home this year. We finally have some great weather to play in, too.”
Schuerman finished out the victory on the mound with one walk and one strikeout.
