Riding a three-game skid into the Easter break, the Indians were unable to break the streak, falling to 5-8 on the season after a 5-0 loss to visiting Scott City 5-0 on April 22.
St. Vincent coach Corey Sauer called the Rams, who are undefeated this season, a “really solid team.” “
That’s the joy of our schedule,” Sauer said. “We schedule tough opponents every year for the simple fact that I want to be ready to go at playoff time. I don’t want to play a bunch of lesser opponents and start blowing people out and stuff like that this time of year. I want it to be tough. I want us to be tested all the way through.”
And the Rams did just that.
Scott City (15-0) got on the board in the first inning after Kobe Watson grounded out, scoring one run, then added 2 more in the third, when Kaden Lowery singled to center field, making the score 3-0. The Rams scored again in the fourth on an RBI single from Evan Boswell, and then once more in the seventh on another RBI single from Lowery.
Senior right-hander Jake Seabaugh started on the mound for St. Vincent and took the loss after giving up 5 runs, 4 earned, on 9 hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out 4 and walking 1. Cain Clifton worked 2/3 of an inning in relief. Scott City starter Lane Miller gave up 3 hits in 7 innings, with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks.
“We threw Seabaugh again and we thought he did a really good job,” Sauer said. “I mean, I haven’t ever been a part of a game where there’s 10 total pitches in the first inning combined with both teams. They swung at the first four pitches, they got a run right off the bat and I mean, their guy did a good job of keeping us off-balance.”
At the plate for the Indians, Tyler Hennemann, Gavin Hotop, and Clifton all finished 1-for-3, and Andrew Hotop recorded 1 steal.
“We only had, I believe it was five base runners all day,” Sauer said. “I mean, you’re not going to win too many ball games when you’re not getting on base. It wasn’t a lack of not putting the ball in play. I mean we were just kind of hitting it right at them. But overall, I mean we played a pretty clean game.”
For Scott City, Lowery finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, while leadoff man Lane Holder was 2-for-4 with 3 runs scored. Evan Boswell, batting ninth, was 2-for-3 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored. Holder and Braeden Walton had 2 stolen bases.
“[Scott City is] 15-0 now for a reason,” Sauer said. “They can swing it. They’re going to make the plays. They’ve got good arms.
Next up for St. Vincent is a game at Chester on April 28, followed by a home game against Kelly on April 29, and another on May 1 against Jefferson, meaning another long break for the Indians.
“I’m not opposed to this long break,” Sauer said. “I’m not opposed to bigger breaks simply because you play so many games right off the bat if you don’t get any rain. We’ve got some guys we need to get a little bit healthier, and we need work some kinks out in practice too. So we’ll be okay with the break. We’ll fire right back up with three games again with some more good teams.”
