FORT MADISON – After dropping a doubleheader Monday night in Keokuk, Fort Madison Head Coach Albert Schinstock told the Bloodhounds to just keep hitting the ball.
That happened Thursday as the Hounds pulled out a 12-11 win over the Chiefs in Southeast Conference action at Fort Madison.
The two teams combined for 21 hits in a game that saw six lead changes.
“I just told them to keep taking quality at bats and we did that tonight,” Schinstock said.
“We track that and we had 21 quality at bats. I told the kids that would pay off. Just keep pounding the pitcher.”
Despite all the offense on display, the game really came down to a couple plays at third.
In the top of the seventh Keokuk’s Jacob Lantz ripped a one-out single off Hound pitcher Hunter Cresswell’s leg. After a short break to check on Cresswell, the Chief’s Brenton Hoard drove a deep ball down the left field line sending courtesy runner Cole Happs all the way around with Keokuk Head Coach Steve Worster waiving him in.
The Hounds Brennan Ulik threw a nice ball into Kane Williams who took the cut off and threw home to get Happs.
The ball bounced away from freshman Ames Schinstock behind the plate, but in the cloud of dirt Schinstock got control defending the plate and was able to get a tag on Happs in the scrum.
“I shoulda held him at third,” Worster said. “He was literally the last guy I had off the bench and it was a close play. Apparently the catcher blocked the plate and he didn’t get there.”
Cresswell who came on in the fourth in relief of starter Aiden Mitchell, got the next hitter to fan for the win.
The junior fanned eight and walked two while giving up six hits and four runs, just one earned.
Schinstock said he went out in the seventh to check on Cresswell, who had thrown on Monday.
“Right away he said he was fine and I didn’t think twice after that,” Schinstock said.
Sophomore Tateum Schelich led Fort Madison at the plate going 2-4 with 5 RBI and a run scored.
“He’s been hitting well in practice. We told the guys at the beginning of the season, if you’re hitting you’re gonna be in the lineup,” Schinstock said.
Schelich drove in runs on a single, double and ground out in the second.
A subdued Hounds squad trailed 4-0 going into the bottom half of the second, but put up three runs in both the second and the third to take a 6-4 lead into the fourth.
Keokuk responded with five runs in the top of the fourth highlighted by Hoard’s first double to left scoring two.
Keokuk would get Fort Madison 1-2-3 in the bottom half and the Hounds would hold the Chiefs in the top of the fifth.
Fort Madison then turned things around again in the bottom of the fifth with four runs, two off a double from Luke Hellige to right scoring Mitchell and Schelich for a 10-9 Fort Madison lead.
Keokuk would add two more in the top of the sixth to retake the lead 11-10, but Fort Madison would put up what proved to be the game winner when Schelich doubled down the left field line scoring Aidan Boyer, and Cresswell all the way from first.
Cresswell retired the side in the seventh to help the Bloodhounds improve to 7-10 on the year and 4-5 in the Southeast Conference.
Worster said the rivalry is heating up.
“It’s friendly, but we’re gonna compete, sure. It’s a county rivalry and we want to beat each other. When we cross the lines it’s all business,” he said.
Schinstock said things got a little tense Monday, but the rivalry is good and Thursday’s game was a bit calmer.
"Monday things got a little heated, but tonight was calmer. It's a rivalry. Everyone comes to play."
Bryor Lindner went the distance suffering the loss for Keokuk (4-11, 2-7)
“My pitcher pitched his guts out tonight and has nothing to show for it. Bryor’s all heart and he leaves it on the field every night. My heart hurts for him.”
Hoard had three hits to lead Keokuk.
Caden Barnes, Cresswell, Mitchell, Schelich and Hellige all had two hits for the Hounds.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here