STE. GENEVIEVE — Valle Catholic (5-6) broke open a tight game with a big middle-inning surge and capitalized on St. Vincent miscues to claim an 11-3 victory on March 31.
The Indians (3-3) kept pace early, matching Valle Catholic through the first few innings and eventually tying the game 3-3 before the Warriors seized control. Valle responded with a 3-run third inning and continued to add on, finishing with 11 runs on 11 hits.
St. Vincent finished with 8 hits but was undone by 5 errors and a string of free passes that allowed Valle Catholic to extend innings.
“You’re not going to win many games when you walk 10 and have five errors,” St. Vincent coach Corey Sauer said. “They got up on us early, we tied it back up, and then from that point on they put up crooked numbers.”
Gavin Hotop paced the Indians offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI. Andrew Hotop added a 2-for-4 performance with 2 runs scored, while Tyler Hennemann and Gus Unterreiner each recorded a hit and drove in a run.
Cain Clifton took the loss on the mound, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits over 3.0 innings while striking out 1 and walking 4. Andrew Schumer worked 2/3 of an inning, surrendering 3 runs on 3 hits, and Avery Brown allowed 5 runs (2 earned) over 2 1/3 innings with 5 strikeouts.
Valle Catholic was led by a balanced offensive attack. Evan Fallert went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored, while Kaden Williams finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Lane Cole added a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI, and Colton Kutz drove in 3 runs.
Cole earned the complete- game win, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits while striking out 4 and walking none.
Sauer noted that conditions and lineup adjustments also contributed to the outcome. “The wind was blowing hard, and balls were spinning everywhere,” he said. “We had guys playing out of position, and we tried to manage pitch counts, but it kind of backfired.”
Despite the final margin, Sauer said the gap between the teams was not as wide as the score indicated.
“If you take even a portion of those walks and errors away, it’s a completely different game,” he said. “It’s probably a 7-3 or 8-3 type game, and we stranded some runners, too.”
Valle Catholic also benefited from clean defense, committing just 1 error compared to St. Vincent’s 5.
Despite the results, Sauer said he remains encouraged by where his team stands early in the season.
“I’m not disappointed with how we’re playing overall,” he said. “We’re in a good spot, especially with a tough stretch of games coming up. We just have to clean up some of the little things.”
ST. VINCENT 20, CHARLESTON 5
St. Vincent erupted for 11 runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 20-5 rout of Charleston on March 30.
The Indians finished with 20 runs on 20 hits, taking advantage of early opportunities to seize control. Charleston plated 2 runs in the top of the first, but St. Vincent answered with an 11-run outburst in the bottom half to take command.
Tyler Hennemann led the offensive barrage, going 3-for-3 with 3 runs and 5 RBI. Cain Clifton added a 2-for-4 performance with 2 runs and 2 RBI, while Andrew Hotop went 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI.
Gus Unterreiner contributed 2 hits and scored twice, and Quinton Whistler finished 1-for-3 with 3 RBI. Levi Schilling also had a strong day, going 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI, while Andrew Schumer and Van Tallent each drove in a run.
As a team, St. Vincent recorded multiple extra-base hits, including doubles from Schumer and Whistler, and consistently pressured Charleston with baserunners throughout the game.
Charleston totaled 5 runs on 6 hits. Stewart Coon led the Bluejays with 2 RBI, while Robert Murphy and Timothy Frazier II each had a hit and an RBI. DK Williams added a hit and scored a run.
On the mound, Tyler Hennemann earned the win, allowing 1 run on 1 hit over 2.0 innings while striking out 3. Andrew Schumer started and gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits over 1.0 inning, and the Indians’ staff combined to limit further damage after the opening frame.
Charleston’s pitching staff struggled to contain St. Vincent’s offense. Chason Kearbey allowed 11 runs in just 1/3 of an inning, while DK Williams and Isaac Schneider combined to surrender 9 more runs over the next 2 innings.
St. Vincent also capitalized on Charleston miscues, as the Bluejays committed multiple errors that helped extend innings during the decisive first frame.
PERRYVILLE 10, SPARTA (ILL.) 8
Perryville outlasted Sparta (Ill.) on April 1, using a balanced offensive effort to secure a 10-8 victory.
The Pirates scored in 5 different innings and built just enough separation to hold off a late push by the Bulldogs.
Bryce Weber led Perryville at the plate, going 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored. Gideon Stueve added 2 hits, including a double, and drove in 3 runs, while Barrett Wheeler finished with a hit and 3 RBI.
Gavin Mayor contributed 3 RBI, and Waylon Huber added a hit and an RBI as the Pirates totaled 9 hits.
On the mound, Huber earned the win, tossing 6.2 innings while allowing 9 hits and 8 runs (4 earned) with 5 strikeouts. Stueve recorded the final out to close the game.
PERRYVILLE 5, OAK RIDGE 3
Perryville capitalized on timely hitting March 31 to earn a 5-3 victory over Oak Ridge.
The Pirates scored 2 runs in the 1st inning and added 3 more in the 3rd, building an early lead that proved enough.
Waylon Huber led the offense with 2 hits and an RBI, while Bryce Schmidt added 2 hits and a run scored. Gavin Mayor and Barrett Wheeler each drove in a run, and Gideon Stueve added a hit and 2 runs scored.
Bryce Weber chipped in a hit and scored a run as Perryville collected 8 hits as a team.
On the mound, Schmidt delivered a complete-game performance, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs (1 earned) while striking out 6.
SIKESTON 7, PERRYVILLE 0
SIKESTON — Perryville was unable to generate offense on March 30, falling 7-0 to Sikeston.
The Pirates were limited to 6 hits and struggled to string together scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Barrett Wheeler led Perryville with 2 hits, while Gideon Stueve and Bryce Weber each added a hit. Bryce Schmidt also recorded a hit as the Pirates were held scoreless.
On the mound, Weber started and went 4.2 innings, allowing 9 hits and 6 runs (4 earned) while striking out 5. Brayden Amberger pitched in relief, allowing 1 run over 1.1 innings.
